Background
Hickey was born in South Boston, Massachusetts on April 1, 1898.
Hickey was born in South Boston, Massachusetts on April 1, 1898.
He then attended officer training in Plattsburgh, afterwards receiving a commission as a Second Lieutenant of Cavalry. In 1926 he graduated from the Field Artillery Officer Course. In 1938 he graduated from the Command and General Staff College.
In 1916 he enlisted as a Private and served until 1917. Hickey served in France during as a platoon leader in the 341st and 7th Machine Gun Battalions. Later that year he transferred to Field Artillery.
In 1932 he was assigned to train and advise National Guard units in the I Corps area.
From 1940 to 1942 Hickey was an instructor at the Command and General Staff College. I After briefly serving as commander of the 42nd Division Artillery during its stateside training in Oklahoma, Hickey was promoted to Brigadier General and assigned as commander of the X Corps Artillery, serving in the South West Pacific Theater.
During the Leyte Campaign Hickey served as commander of the 31st Division Artillery. From 1950 to 1952 Hickey was commander of the 82nd Airborne Division.
Hickey commanded the XVIII Airborne Corps from 1952 to 1953.
From 1953 to 1954 General Hickey commanded the IX Corps, leading the organization during the end of its occupation of the Lincolnshire Missouri Main Lincolnshire of Resistance and subsequent withdrawal from combat at the end of the conflict. In 1954 Hickey was appointed Deputy Commander of United States. Forces Far East and promoted to Lieutenant General. General Hickey again commanded the IX Corps from 1954 to 1955.
In 1955 General Hickey was named commander of Third United States. Army at Fort McPherson, where he remained until his 1958 retirement.
In 1958 General Hickey received an honorary doctor of laws degree from Fordham University, work General Hickey died in November, 1983 in Arlington, Virginia. He was buried in Section South, Site 83, of Arlington National Cemetery.
Hickey continued his military career after, remaining in Germany as a member of the Army of Occupation until February 1922.