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BIXBY, Philip Taylor Jr "Phil" - Date of
birth
5 September 1916 -
Age
28 -
Place of birth
Appleton, Outagamie County, Wisconsin -
Hometown
Appleton, Outagamie County, Wisconsin
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-377329 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Platoon Commander -
Unit
H Company,
3rd Battalion,
67th Armored Regiment,
2nd Armored Division
-
Awards
Bronze Star,
Purple Heart with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters,
French Croix de Guerre with Silver Star
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
14 April 1945 - Place of
death
Magdeburg, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| J | 8 | 17 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Philips T. Bixby (father)
Alice (Nelson) Bixby (mother)
John Bixby (brother)
Charles H. Bixby (brother)
Janet Bixby (sister)
Rosemary (Pekarske) Bixby (wife)
Ronald H. Bixby (son)
Philip Bixby (son)
More information
Philip T. Bixby, Jr. graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1939 where he was a member of the Reserves Officer Training Corps (R.O.T.C.).He entered the service in January, 1942.
On December 9, 1944 Lt. Bixby was the first officer of the 67th Regiment to be returned to the US for a 30 day leave at home. At the end of March Lt. Bixby returned from the US.
Road blocks were established and two patrols made up of M-24 tanks and 76mm tanks led by Lt Bixby and Lt Corpron made their way into the heavily defended city of Magdeburg.
Lt Philips Bixby was shot and killed by an enemy sniper as he was placing his H Co. platoon in position. Thus ended a career the hallmark of which was quiet heroism and aggressive courage. His loss was keenly felt by all officers and men of the command.
He is remembered at Riverside Cemetery in Appleton, Outagamie County, Wisconsin with a memorial maker.
His brother, Ensign Charles H. Bixby went missing on 29 July 1944 and is memorized on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.
In the records of the ABMC and therefore on his grave marker, his first name is misspelled as 'Philips'.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, http://cgsc.contentdm.oclc.org - After Action Report CCB. History 67th Armored Regiment
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Jasper van Haren, www.findagrave.com - Jacob Paltzer, Lori Driver, Terraces View - Jade Anthony (UW blog posted 14 November 2018)