Early Life

Sam Fixico, member of the Seminole tribe, was born in Konawa, Oklahoma on 23 January 1919 to Cheparney Fixico and Nora Brown. He had two brothers, Webster and Willie, and one sister, Rosanna. Sam’s father was in construction, Willie Fixico served in the Marine Corp.

Education

The 1940 census notes that Sam Fixico completed the 7th grade.

Military

Sam Fixico enlisted in the Army on 17 January 1941 and was assigned to the 120th Medical Battalion of the 45th Infantry and became PFC. Sam Fixico serial #38016318. Pfc. Fixico was KIA (killed in action) on 16 April 1944 in Sicily. Pfc. Fixico was an ambulance driver killed while evacuating casualties of the 45th Division. He received the Bronze star posthumously, he was cited for fidelity to duty and bravery under shell fire.

Burial

Memorial service for Pfc. Sam Fixico was held at the Spring Baptist Church in Sasakwa, Oklahoma. The Sasakwa American Legion was in charge of military rites, interment was at Vamoosa Cemetery.

Pfc. Fixico was awarded the following citations:

Purple Heart

Bronze Star

WWII Victory Medal

American Campaign Medal

Army Presidential Unit Citation Army

Good Conduct Medal

Bibliography:

120th Medical Company Lineage and Honors - https://history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/med/0120mdco.htm

History of B Company 120th Medical Battalion - http://www.45thdivision.org/CampaignsBattles/120thBHist.htm

Honor States.org - https://www.honorstates.org/index.php?id=519990

1940 U.S. Census - https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?dbid=2442&h=86848647&indiv=try&o_vc=Record:OtherRecord&rhSource=61843

WWII Hospital Admission cards - https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?dbid=61817&h=17296363&indiv=try&o_vc=Record:OtherRecord&rhSource=2442

U.S. Roster of WWII Dead (1939-1945) - https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=1102&h=99283&tid=&pid=&queryId=17c1718390b457601b6d131429c36735&usePUB=true&_phsrc=BXQ38&_phstart=successSource

The Daily Oklahoman – https://www.newspapers.com/image/449517094/?terms=Sam%2BFixico

*******************

Written for the Stories Behind The Stars project, https://www.storiesbehindthestars.org/ with the goal of honoring all 400,000 American service men and women who sacrificed their lives during World War II. This writer places emphasis on the 45th Infantry Division out of Oklahoma.

This profile was written by Linda Simpson. I have been an avid genealogist, researching my ancestry in Canada, France, Belgium, and Ireland for over 40 years. I am also a historian for The Seminole Nation, Indian Territory, and The Past Whispers. When I saw an article on Don’s project I knew I wanted to be a part of Stories Behind the Stars. What an amazing way to honor our fallen, by ‘Earning It’ for them.