VA VA - Ray Hickenbotham, Arlington, 14 Oct 1947
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Ray Curtis Hickingbotham Jr.
Missing from: Arlington, Virginia
Date: October 14, 1947
Occupation: U.S. Army
Marital Status: Married
Lt. Ray Hickingbotham was a decorated war hero after World War II. After the war, he, his wife Dorothy, and their daughter Carol settled in the Vint Hill Farms Army Station outside of Arlington, Virginia. With the Cold War beginning, Ray was reassigned to Army Intelligence monitoring radio operations as a code-breaker in a group later acclimated into the CIA.
Ray often worked long, hard hours as a result of his new assignment. In late summer of 1947, he was transferred to another top secret group at the Arlington Hall Intelligence Station. He did not tell Dorothy about his new assignment. Dorothy noticed that he was becoming more tense and tired, not paying much attention to her or Carol.
Three weeks later, Dorothy and Carol went on a two-week visit to her parents on Long Island; Ray did not go with them. When Dorothy called their Arlington apartment, she was told that he had gone on leave. A former neighbor discovered that a military moving crew had cleaned out and packed up the Hickingbothams' belongings from their apartment.
Two weeks later, a moving van showed up at Dorothy's parents' home. In the boxes and trunks, there was not a single item that belonged to Ray. A month later, a man claiming to be from the army visited Dorothy and told her that on October 14, 1947, Ray had been classified AWOL. Thirty days later, he was dropped from the military rolls and classified as a deserter. The man, however, could not tell her anything else. Dorothy later tried to contact the man, but the army said that they had never heard of him. After this, she and Carol lost all their military benefits as a result, struggling to make ends meet...
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Ray Hickingbotham
This is a weird case. I wonder if Carol's mother told her everything. It wasn't until the article was published, that Carol was able to hear from someone herself, and we don't know if that person was who he claimed to be. It is also confusing about the benefits. She said they lost benefits and struggled, but then a mysterious person says he wasn't discharged. So, where did his benefits go? More importantly, he had several siblings and parents. Why don't they know any information? Did they try to find him? One of the brothers was in the military, and it seems odd that he wouldn't participate in the search. According to Ancestry, her mom got a divorce from him in 1950, 3 years after he was reported missing; she also remarried later. But he is definitely gone. I wonder if he was caught in an affair and was discharged but didn't want to tell his family. Could have been a gay issue too. Back then, I could easily see someone making up a lie, in order to avoid the stigma.74 years missing...
Ray Curtis Hickingbotham Jr.
Missing since: October 14, 1947
The family could request a copy of his Army records from the National Military Personnel Records Center (NMPRC) located in St. Louis, MO.
There would have been a Judge Advocate General (JAG) Investigation into his disappearance and that report exists some where.
His name should still appear on the Army's deserter list, unless later information caused it to be removed.
There would have been a Judge Advocate General (JAG) Investigation into his disappearance and that report exists some where.
His name should still appear on the Army's deserter list, unless later information caused it to be removed.
Very true. I think mom might not have portrayed everything to her daughter, or didn't do it with the best recollection. All of the siblings who have died list him as "predeceased" in their public obits. He doesn't have a death certificate, however (accdg to Ancestry). Sounds like a suicide. I am also thinking (just based on some additional sleuthing) that he never really got transferred to some other special unit. He was pulling away from the family and the Army. That's probably why they took his things. If he's gone, they have to make sure he left nothing sensitive behind.
Another thing - one of his brothers struck it big and wealthy by creating a famous business. I dug too much.
ELongo19862022
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I agree there is a lot of missing information here. I believe because he was married (not childless) that the government (Army) wouldn't have just moved him without telling notifying the family even in those sensitive high stress Cold War years. If he was part of a high secretive mission and was killed the government would have notified the family (regardless of where he was killed) because they would have been obligated that much. I believe he had an affair or even homosexual and that's why the government moved him promptly before either word circulated on base or caused embarrassment. As a result, he was listed AWOL. Forever tarnished and militarily ruined he lived the rest of his live in solidarity.
Lwieckowicz
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There are also incidents of military cover ups so it’s possible something happened to him related to the service and it was covered up by classifying him as awol JMO
ELongo19862022
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Was he a linguist? Since he was a radio operator. If so, he could have done some human intelligence collection and met foul play.
In re-reading the case summary, a few things stand out. First, there are no "military moving crews" who pack up and move military personnel. It would have been a civilian moving company contracted through the military personal goods office or by the military person being moved. Since a shipment of household items arrived safely at the wife's parents home, there would have been an inventory or shipping list and the name of the moving company. It would have been easy to determine where the missing items were shipped, simply by contacting the moving company.
Who, but Ray Hickenbotham would have known what items belonged to him and which were to be shipped to his wife? It could reasonably be inferred that Ray checked out on leave, arranged for the two destination move, and then disappeared.
The Army seems to have acted in accordance with proper procedure when first declaring him AWOL upon his failure to report back to his unit after his leave 14 October 1947. And an Army officer contacting the family to inform them and to ask where he might be is normal. Declaring a missing military person a deserter after 30 days absence is proper procedure and has been for decades. It is not stated exactly who Mrs. Hickenbotham spoke to who did not know the officer she said had visited her, but that could be understood as completely reasonable depending on who she asked. Not everyone knows everyone else in the service.
What became of Lt. Hickenbotham and why is a mystery. Locating where his personal belongings were shipped or stored would have been a major clue. Given his security clearance and work in sensitive intelligence, it is a pretty safe bet that a high level investigation was conducted by Army CID and maybe by the FBI. A file on his disappearance must exist somewhere. Perhaps a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request might bring it to light.
When someone is declared a deserter, his service record, medical record, dental record, etc. is all forwarded on to the National Military Personnel Records Center (NMPRC) in St. Louis, Missouri to be archived. If, however, there is an ongoing investigation the investigating agency might hold the records for a period of time.
If declared a deserter, the family receives no further pay or allowances and cannot stay on a military base. They lose all military benefits like medical, dental, exchange or commissary privileges. Since the service member has not been declared dead, no Serviceman's Group Life Insurance death benefits are paid out. The service member's name is placed on a "Deserter List" and remains on it forever - or until his absence is resolved.
LINK:
unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com
Who, but Ray Hickenbotham would have known what items belonged to him and which were to be shipped to his wife? It could reasonably be inferred that Ray checked out on leave, arranged for the two destination move, and then disappeared.
The Army seems to have acted in accordance with proper procedure when first declaring him AWOL upon his failure to report back to his unit after his leave 14 October 1947. And an Army officer contacting the family to inform them and to ask where he might be is normal. Declaring a missing military person a deserter after 30 days absence is proper procedure and has been for decades. It is not stated exactly who Mrs. Hickenbotham spoke to who did not know the officer she said had visited her, but that could be understood as completely reasonable depending on who she asked. Not everyone knows everyone else in the service.
What became of Lt. Hickenbotham and why is a mystery. Locating where his personal belongings were shipped or stored would have been a major clue. Given his security clearance and work in sensitive intelligence, it is a pretty safe bet that a high level investigation was conducted by Army CID and maybe by the FBI. A file on his disappearance must exist somewhere. Perhaps a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request might bring it to light.
When someone is declared a deserter, his service record, medical record, dental record, etc. is all forwarded on to the National Military Personnel Records Center (NMPRC) in St. Louis, Missouri to be archived. If, however, there is an ongoing investigation the investigating agency might hold the records for a period of time.
If declared a deserter, the family receives no further pay or allowances and cannot stay on a military base. They lose all military benefits like medical, dental, exchange or commissary privileges. Since the service member has not been declared dead, no Serviceman's Group Life Insurance death benefits are paid out. The service member's name is placed on a "Deserter List" and remains on it forever - or until his absence is resolved.
LINK:
Ray Hickingbotham
Real Name: Ray Curtis Hickingbotham Jr. Nicknames: No known nicknames Location: Arlington, Virginia Date: October 14, 1947 Occupation: U.S. Army Date of Birth: 1920 Height: Unrevealed Weight: Unrevealed Marital Status: Married Characteristics: Caucasian male Details: Lt. Ray Hickingbotham was a...
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ELongo19862022
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In re-reading the case summary, a few things stand out. First, there are no "military moving crews" who pack up and move military personnel. It would have been a civilian moving company contracted through the military personal goods office or by the military person being moved. Since a shipment of household items arrived safely at the wife's parents home, there would have been an inventory or shipping list and the name of the moving company. It would have been easy to determine where the missing items were shipped, simply by contacting the moving company.
Who, but Ray Hickenbotham would have known what items belonged to him and which were to be shipped to his wife? It could reasonably be inferred that Ray checked out on leave, arranged for the two destination move, and then disappeared.
The Army seems to have acted in accordance with proper procedure when first declaring him AWOL upon his failure to report back to his unit after his leave 14 October 1947. And an Army officer contacting the family to inform them and to ask where he might be is normal. Declaring a missing military person a deserter after 30 days absence is proper procedure and has been for decades. It is not stated exactly who Mrs. Hickenbotham spoke to who did not know the officer she said had visited her, but that could be understood as completely reasonable depending on who she asked. Not everyone knows everyone else in the service.
What became of Lt. Hickenbotham and why is a mystery. Locating where his personal belongings were shipped or stored would have been a major clue. Given his security clearance and work in sensitive intelligence, it is a pretty safe bet that a high level investigation was conducted by Army CID and maybe by the FBI. A file on his disappearance must exist somewhere. Perhaps a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request might bring it to light.
When someone is declared a deserter, his service record, medical record, dental record, etc. is all forwarded on to the National Military Personnel Records Center (NMPRC) in St. Louis, Missouri to be archived. If, however, there is an ongoing investigation the investigating agency might hold the records for a period of time.
In re-reading the case summary, a few things stand out. First, there are no "military moving crews" who pack up and move military personnel. It would have been a civilian moving company contracted through the military personal goods office or by the military person being moved. Since a shipment of household items arrived safely at the wife's parents home, there would have been an inventory or shipping list and the name of the moving company. It would have been easy to determine where the missing items were shipped, simply by contacting the moving company.
Who, but Ray Hickenbotham would have known what items belonged to him and which were to be shipped to his wife? It could reasonably be inferred that Ray checked out on leave, arranged for the two destination move, and then disappeared.
The Army seems to have acted in accordance with proper procedure when first declaring him AWOL upon his failure to report back to his unit after his leave 14 October 1947. And an Army officer contacting the family to inform them and to ask where he might be is normal. Declaring a missing military person a deserter after 30 days absence is proper procedure and has been for decades. It is not stated exactly who Mrs. Hickenbotham spoke to who did not know the officer she said had visited her, but that could be understood as completely reasonable depending on who she asked. Not everyone knows everyone else in the service.
What became of Lt. Hickenbotham and why is a mystery. Locating where his personal belongings were shipped or stored would have been a major clue. Given his security clearance and work in sensitive intelligence, it is a pretty safe bet that a high level investigation was conducted by Army CID and maybe by the FBI. A file on his disappearance must exist somewhere. Perhaps a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request might bring it to light.
When someone is declared a deserter, his service record, medical record, dental record, etc. is all forwarded on to the National Military Personnel Records Center (NMPRC) in St. Louis, Missouri to be archived. If, however, there is an ongoing investigation the investigating agency might hold the records for a period of time.
If declared a deserter, the family receives no further pay or allowances and cannot stay on a military base. They lose all military benefits like medical, dental, exchange or commissary privileges. Since the service member has not been declared dead, no Serviceman's Group Life Insurance death benefits are paid out. The service member's name is placed on a "Deserter List" and remains on it forever - or until his absence is resolved.
In re-reading the case summary, a few things stand out. First, there are no "military moving crews" who pack up and move military personnel. It would have been a civilian moving company contracted through the military personal goods office or by the military person being moved. Since a shipment of household items arrived safely at the wife's parents home, there would have been an inventory or shipping list and the name of the moving company. It would have been easy to determine where the missing items were shipped, simply by contacting the moving company.
Who, but Ray Hickenbotham would have known what items belonged to him and which were to be shipped to his wife? It could reasonably be inferred that Ray checked out on leave, arranged for the two destination move, and then disappeared.
The Army seems to have acted in accordance with proper procedure when first declaring him AWOL upon his failure to report back to his unit after his leave 14 October 1947. And an Army officer contacting the family to inform them and to ask where he might be is normal. Declaring a missing military person a deserter after 30 days absence is proper procedure and has been for decades. It is not stated exactly who Mrs. Hickenbotham spoke to who did not know the officer she said had visited her, but that could be understood as completely reasonable depending on who she asked. Not everyone knows everyone else in the service.
What became of Lt. Hickenbotham and why is a mystery. Locating where his personal belongings were shipped or stored would have been a major clue. Given his security clearance and work in sensitive intelligence, it is a pretty safe bet that a high level investigation was conducted by Army CID and maybe by the FBI. A file on his disappearance must exist somewhere. Perhaps a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request might bring it to light.
When someone is declared a deserter, his service record, medical record, dental record, etc. is all forwarded on to the National Military Personnel Records Center (NMPRC) in St. Louis, Missouri to be archived. If, however, there is an ongoing investigation the investigating agency might hold the records for a period of time.
If declared a deserter, the family receives no further pay or allowances and cannot stay on a military base. They lose all military benefits like medical, dental, exchange or commissary privileges. Since the service member has not been declared dead, no Serviceman's Group Life Insurance death benefits are paid out. The service member's name is placed on a "Deserter List" and remains on it forever - or until his absence is resolved.
LINK:
Ray Hickingbotham
Real Name: Ray Curtis Hickingbotham Jr. Nicknames: No known nicknames Location: Arlington, Virginia Date: October 14, 1947 Occupation: U.S. Army Date of Birth: 1920 Height: Unrevealed Weight: Unrevealed Marital Status: Married Characteristics: Caucasian male Details: Lt. Ray Hickingbotham was a...
LINK:
Ray Hickingbotham
Real Name: Ray Curtis Hickingbotham Jr. Nicknames: No known nicknames Location: Arlington, Virginia Date: October 14, 1947 Occupation: U.S. Army Date of Birth: 1920 Height: Unrevealed Weight: Unrevealed Marital Status: Married Characteristics: Caucasian male Details: Lt. Ray Hickingbotham was a...
If declared a deserter, the family receives no further pay or allowances and cannot stay on a military base. They lose all military benefits like medical, dental, exchange or commissary privileges. Since the service member has not been declared dead, no Serviceman's Group Life Insurance death benefits are paid out. The service member's name is placed on a "Deserter List" and remains on it forever - or until his absence is resolved.
LINK:
ELongo19862022
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So is it fair to say that he deserted then because she lost all of her benefits? If so, I wonder why.In re-reading the case summary, a few things stand out. First, there are no "military moving crews" who pack up and move military personnel. It would have been a civilian moving company contracted through the military personal goods office or by the military person being moved. Since a shipment of household items arrived safely at the wife's parents home, there would have been an inventory or shipping list and the name of the moving company. It would have been easy to determine where the missing items were shipped, simply by contacting the moving company.
Who, but Ray Hickenbotham would have known what items belonged to him and which were to be shipped to his wife? It could reasonably be inferred that Ray checked out on leave, arranged for the two destination move, and then disappeared.
The Army seems to have acted in accordance with proper procedure when first declaring him AWOL upon his failure to report back to his unit after his leave 14 October 1947. And an Army officer contacting the family to inform them and to ask where he might be is normal. Declaring a missing military person a deserter after 30 days absence is proper procedure and has been for decades. It is not stated exactly who Mrs. Hickenbotham spoke to who did not know the officer she said had visited her, but that could be understood as completely reasonable depending on who she asked. Not everyone knows everyone else in the service.
What became of Lt. Hickenbotham and why is a mystery. Locating where his personal belongings were shipped or stored would have been a major clue. Given his security clearance and work in sensitive intelligence, it is a pretty safe bet that a high level investigation was conducted by Army CID and maybe by the FBI. A file on his disappearance must exist somewhere. Perhaps a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request might bring it to light.
When someone is declared a deserter, his service record, medical record, dental record, etc. is all forwarded on to the National Military Personnel Records Center (NMPRC) in St. Louis, Missouri to be archived. If, however, there is an ongoing investigation the investigating agency might hold the records for a period of time.
If declared a deserter, the family receives no further pay or allowances and cannot stay on a military base. They lose all military benefits like medical, dental, exchange or commissary privileges. Since the service member has not been declared dead, no Serviceman's Group Life Insurance death benefits are paid out. The service member's name is placed on a "Deserter List" and remains on it forever - or until his absence is resolved.
LINK:
Ray Hickingbotham
Real Name: Ray Curtis Hickingbotham Jr. Nicknames: No known nicknames Location: Arlington, Virginia Date: October 14, 1947 Occupation: U.S. Army Date of Birth: 1920 Height: Unrevealed Weight: Unrevealed Marital Status: Married Characteristics: Caucasian male Details: Lt. Ray Hickingbotham was a...
Desertion is a criminal offense which a service member could be charged with if the situation meets very specific criteria in the Judge Advocate General (JAG) Manual. Certain proofs of the offense have to be met, such as he had a place to be, a time to be there, and he was not there WITH THE INTENT to remain away permanently. It is not always easy to prove the Intent part, especially if the service member returns on his own.
Official charges have to be preferred and served to the accused, and a trial by court martial has to be held and the accused found guilty in order for him to actually be guilty of the crime of desertion. If guilty, there are various punishments which may be imposed.
HOWEVER, None of that applies to the case of Lt. Hickenbotham. He simply went missing. Unfortunately, after a person goes missing from the military and has been so absent for 30 days, he is DECLARED a Deserter for Administrative purposes and placed in such a status until his case is resolved - either by his return to duty or in some cases by finding his body.
It is not fair to state that Lt. Hickenbotham "deserted" in the legal sense, because we do not know all the circumstances or his intentions. He could have disappeared for any number of reasons, such as being murdered, becoming lost at sea while fishing, falling down a well, committing suicide in a remote location, etc. And any of those possibilities are probably more likely than him intentionally deserting the Army and going over to the Communists.
There have been a number of similar cases mentioned in these threads about missing service members who were declared deserters, and then eventually they turn up dead or alive. Unfortunately, their families suffer for years in the meanwhile.
ELongo19862022
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That's really interesting. I think it is interesting that he worked for the Army Security Agency (ASA) which became absorbed into NSA/CIA in the 1970s. I wonder if he was a linguist.
ELongo19862022
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That's really interesting. I think it is interesting that he worked for the Army Security Agency (ASA) which became absorbed into NSA/CIA in the 1970s. I wonder if he was a linguist.
I do not know Lt. Hickenbotham's background and service record, so do not know if he ever served as a Linguist. However, as an Officer, he probably supervised a number of enlisted specialists, some of whom may have been Linguists.
cherrymeg
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So if something happened to this man like an accidental death or murder, if his body wasn’t found he would be considered AWOL or a deserter? If later it’s discovered he didn’t leave by choice or has been dead the whole time is the family owed money? If you are married with a child and the government wants you without the family shouldn’t they legally make you dead? It seems easier for a wife so she can be a widow. Family members can accept death. Also wouldn’t a person want to make sure their child was provided for? It seems like people should look for you if you didn’t choose to go missing. It’s possible he had friends cover for him. It sounds rough on the family in any scenario.