SERVED in the UNITED STATES ARMY AIR FORCE - WORLD WAR II
Stateside 1942 - 1944
Overseas 1 Mar 1944 - 6 July 1945. Stationed at Attlebridge Airfield, East Anglia, near Norwich, England, with the U. S. 8th Air Force, England. 234th Army Air Force Base Unit, 787th Bomb Sq., 466th Bombardment Group.
Ground support - repair of war damaged planes - B-24 Liberators.
Transported by train and the Queen Mary.
Returned home to 9550 SE 32nd., Milwaukie, Clackamas County, Or. (Ardenwald neighborhood).
General Doolittle authorized 30,000 ground personnel of the 8th Air Force 466th Bombardment Group to have aerial tours of Western Germany (Rheine Valley area) "to see with their own eyes what they had helped to bring about".
On Feb 28,1952, just after Allen's 31st birthday, he purchased a beautiful farm on lower Pleasant Valley Road in Sweet Home. His widowed father, Otto, also came to live here with him. Much of the farm equipment from Otto's Ardenwald/Milwaukie farm was hauled to the new place by tractor and trailer which Allen had to drive on 99 E.
Allen never married but he was very close to his six nieces and nephews as they often lived on or visited his farm . (With one nephew being born on the farm in the old farm house).
"The Farm" saw many changes and improvements over the years such as no fencing to all fields being fenced and cross-fenced. He dug-out a pond known as "the Rickman Pond". He planted/harvested grain crops, grew hay, had a cow/calf operation and at various times had other farm animals such as pigs, sheep, ducks, geese, cats. The chickens were always his Fathers business!! For a very short time, an old mare named 'Jo' was brought on to the farm for the older kids to ride. Favorite doggies were Tippy, Poochy, Major and Kota.
Continuing with the skills he learned in the sheet metal industry, Allen had a farm shop where he would repair farm equipment, make fence post/gates and other unique things like a waterwheel and many whimsical "bird/crow" art. He built a saw-mill and made boards from fallen trees. He built a carport/woodshed out of timber from the old 'Bates Bridge" (McDowell Creek Road over the South Santiam River).
In 1960 a very large barn was built with the use of a tractor and pole trees from the farm and some outside lumber. Many other activities happened on the farm: milking cows, feeding the animals, gathering eggs, planting gardens, hunting 'coons', spraying poison oak, killing tangy rag- weed, maintaining natural creeks, etc. This property has a hidden waterfall that makes for wonderful exploration. Allen loved trees and planted several different kinds all over the farm.
In 1984, he had Adair Homes build a new prefab home as the farm house was very old and "a tinder-box". This new home was a great improvement even though it always remained a "bachelor's house"!
Uncle Allen gained eight great nephews and nieces over the years which increased even more to as many great- greats! All visited the farm often sharing time and experiences with their Great Uncle. Hay season always needed helping hands with the freshly baled hay making the fields a great place to learn to drive the old Chev pickup. Allen also enjoyed welcoming the neighbor kids to come over for a visit.
In the 60's Uncle Allen and Grandpa took many vacations which included four of us older kids: Yellowstone National Park, the Tetons, Lewis and Clark Caverns, Grand Canyon, Oregon Caves, the Painted Hills, Crater Lake, Grand Coulee Dam, Mount Rainier and many day trips to the coast, eastern Oregon, Oysterville, WA. and Mount Hood. We will always be grateful to have been included as we had a great time camping out under the stars as there wasn't enough room in the home-made pick-up camper. Remember those sardines & crackers? And the spam sandwiches made on the tail-gate? Many of these trips have yet to be duplicated!
Uncle Allen told us about climbing to the top of Mount Hood with his buddies the summer of '42 just before his enlistment. What an achievement!
Not to be forgotten are his many fence-neighbors and friends in our little valley and those in Sweet Home and Lebanon. Farmers are always visiting one another to share farming ideas, or to help any way they can, or just talk about the world in general. Allen had many good friends over the years - although many had already passed away. He liked to visit local cemeteries and reminisce about the "good ole days".
Allen passed away at home while on Hospice. He was tenderly cared for and watched over till his last breath by his nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Otto and Germaine; brother Daryl Rickman and niece, Genny.
Write-up by niece, Bonnie.
Stateside 1942 - 1944
Overseas 1 Mar 1944 - 6 July 1945. Stationed at Attlebridge Airfield, East Anglia, near Norwich, England, with the U. S. 8th Air Force, England. 234th Army Air Force Base Unit, 787th Bomb Sq., 466th Bombardment Group.
Ground support - repair of war damaged planes - B-24 Liberators.
Transported by train and the Queen Mary.
Returned home to 9550 SE 32nd., Milwaukie, Clackamas County, Or. (Ardenwald neighborhood).
General Doolittle authorized 30,000 ground personnel of the 8th Air Force 466th Bombardment Group to have aerial tours of Western Germany (Rheine Valley area) "to see with their own eyes what they had helped to bring about".
On Feb 28,1952, just after Allen's 31st birthday, he purchased a beautiful farm on lower Pleasant Valley Road in Sweet Home. His widowed father, Otto, also came to live here with him. Much of the farm equipment from Otto's Ardenwald/Milwaukie farm was hauled to the new place by tractor and trailer which Allen had to drive on 99 E.
Allen never married but he was very close to his six nieces and nephews as they often lived on or visited his farm . (With one nephew being born on the farm in the old farm house).
"The Farm" saw many changes and improvements over the years such as no fencing to all fields being fenced and cross-fenced. He dug-out a pond known as "the Rickman Pond". He planted/harvested grain crops, grew hay, had a cow/calf operation and at various times had other farm animals such as pigs, sheep, ducks, geese, cats. The chickens were always his Fathers business!! For a very short time, an old mare named 'Jo' was brought on to the farm for the older kids to ride. Favorite doggies were Tippy, Poochy, Major and Kota.
Continuing with the skills he learned in the sheet metal industry, Allen had a farm shop where he would repair farm equipment, make fence post/gates and other unique things like a waterwheel and many whimsical "bird/crow" art. He built a saw-mill and made boards from fallen trees. He built a carport/woodshed out of timber from the old 'Bates Bridge" (McDowell Creek Road over the South Santiam River).
In 1960 a very large barn was built with the use of a tractor and pole trees from the farm and some outside lumber. Many other activities happened on the farm: milking cows, feeding the animals, gathering eggs, planting gardens, hunting 'coons', spraying poison oak, killing tangy rag- weed, maintaining natural creeks, etc. This property has a hidden waterfall that makes for wonderful exploration. Allen loved trees and planted several different kinds all over the farm.
In 1984, he had Adair Homes build a new prefab home as the farm house was very old and "a tinder-box". This new home was a great improvement even though it always remained a "bachelor's house"!
Uncle Allen gained eight great nephews and nieces over the years which increased even more to as many great- greats! All visited the farm often sharing time and experiences with their Great Uncle. Hay season always needed helping hands with the freshly baled hay making the fields a great place to learn to drive the old Chev pickup. Allen also enjoyed welcoming the neighbor kids to come over for a visit.
In the 60's Uncle Allen and Grandpa took many vacations which included four of us older kids: Yellowstone National Park, the Tetons, Lewis and Clark Caverns, Grand Canyon, Oregon Caves, the Painted Hills, Crater Lake, Grand Coulee Dam, Mount Rainier and many day trips to the coast, eastern Oregon, Oysterville, WA. and Mount Hood. We will always be grateful to have been included as we had a great time camping out under the stars as there wasn't enough room in the home-made pick-up camper. Remember those sardines & crackers? And the spam sandwiches made on the tail-gate? Many of these trips have yet to be duplicated!
Uncle Allen told us about climbing to the top of Mount Hood with his buddies the summer of '42 just before his enlistment. What an achievement!
Not to be forgotten are his many fence-neighbors and friends in our little valley and those in Sweet Home and Lebanon. Farmers are always visiting one another to share farming ideas, or to help any way they can, or just talk about the world in general. Allen had many good friends over the years - although many had already passed away. He liked to visit local cemeteries and reminisce about the "good ole days".
Allen passed away at home while on Hospice. He was tenderly cared for and watched over till his last breath by his nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Otto and Germaine; brother Daryl Rickman and niece, Genny.
Write-up by niece, Bonnie.
SERVED in the UNITED STATES ARMY AIR FORCE - WORLD WAR II
Stateside 1942 - 1944
Overseas 1 Mar 1944 - 6 July 1945. Stationed at Attlebridge Airfield, East Anglia, near Norwich, England, with the U. S. 8th Air Force, England. 234th Army Air Force Base Unit, 787th Bomb Sq., 466th Bombardment Group.
Ground support - repair of war damaged planes - B-24 Liberators.
Transported by train and the Queen Mary.
Returned home to 9550 SE 32nd., Milwaukie, Clackamas County, Or. (Ardenwald neighborhood).
General Doolittle authorized 30,000 ground personnel of the 8th Air Force 466th Bombardment Group to have aerial tours of Western Germany (Rheine Valley area) "to see with their own eyes what they had helped to bring about".
On Feb 28,1952, just after Allen's 31st birthday, he purchased a beautiful farm on lower Pleasant Valley Road in Sweet Home. His widowed father, Otto, also came to live here with him. Much of the farm equipment from Otto's Ardenwald/Milwaukie farm was hauled to the new place by tractor and trailer which Allen had to drive on 99 E.
Allen never married but he was very close to his six nieces and nephews as they often lived on or visited his farm . (With one nephew being born on the farm in the old farm house).
"The Farm" saw many changes and improvements over the years such as no fencing to all fields being fenced and cross-fenced. He dug-out a pond known as "the Rickman Pond". He planted/harvested grain crops, grew hay, had a cow/calf operation and at various times had other farm animals such as pigs, sheep, ducks, geese, cats. The chickens were always his Fathers business!! For a very short time, an old mare named 'Jo' was brought on to the farm for the older kids to ride. Favorite doggies were Tippy, Poochy, Major and Kota.
Continuing with the skills he learned in the sheet metal industry, Allen had a farm shop where he would repair farm equipment, make fence post/gates and other unique things like a waterwheel and many whimsical "bird/crow" art. He built a saw-mill and made boards from fallen trees. He built a carport/woodshed out of timber from the old 'Bates Bridge" (McDowell Creek Road over the South Santiam River).
In 1960 a very large barn was built with the use of a tractor and pole trees from the farm and some outside lumber. Many other activities happened on the farm: milking cows, feeding the animals, gathering eggs, planting gardens, hunting 'coons', spraying poison oak, killing tangy rag- weed, maintaining natural creeks, etc. This property has a hidden waterfall that makes for wonderful exploration. Allen loved trees and planted several different kinds all over the farm.
In 1984, he had Adair Homes build a new prefab home as the farm house was very old and "a tinder-box". This new home was a great improvement even though it always remained a "bachelor's house"!
Uncle Allen gained eight great nephews and nieces over the years which increased even more to as many great- greats! All visited the farm often sharing time and experiences with their Great Uncle. Hay season always needed helping hands with the freshly baled hay making the fields a great place to learn to drive the old Chev pickup. Allen also enjoyed welcoming the neighbor kids to come over for a visit.
In the 60's Uncle Allen and Grandpa took many vacations which included four of us older kids: Yellowstone National Park, the Tetons, Lewis and Clark Caverns, Grand Canyon, Oregon Caves, the Painted Hills, Crater Lake, Grand Coulee Dam, Mount Rainier and many day trips to the coast, eastern Oregon, Oysterville, WA. and Mount Hood. We will always be grateful to have been included as we had a great time camping out under the stars as there wasn't enough room in the home-made pick-up camper. Remember those sardines & crackers? And the spam sandwiches made on the tail-gate? Many of these trips have yet to be duplicated!
Uncle Allen told us about climbing to the top of Mount Hood with his buddies the summer of '42 just before his enlistment. What an achievement!
Not to be forgotten are his many fence-neighbors and friends in our little valley and those in Sweet Home and Lebanon. Farmers are always visiting one another to share farming ideas, or to help any way they can, or just talk about the world in general. Allen had many good friends over the years - although many had already passed away. He liked to visit local cemeteries and reminisce about the "good ole days".
Allen passed away at home while on Hospice. He was tenderly cared for and watched over till his last breath by his nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Otto and Germaine; brother Daryl Rickman and niece, Genny.
Write-up by niece, Bonnie.
Stateside 1942 - 1944
Overseas 1 Mar 1944 - 6 July 1945. Stationed at Attlebridge Airfield, East Anglia, near Norwich, England, with the U. S. 8th Air Force, England. 234th Army Air Force Base Unit, 787th Bomb Sq., 466th Bombardment Group.
Ground support - repair of war damaged planes - B-24 Liberators.
Transported by train and the Queen Mary.
Returned home to 9550 SE 32nd., Milwaukie, Clackamas County, Or. (Ardenwald neighborhood).
General Doolittle authorized 30,000 ground personnel of the 8th Air Force 466th Bombardment Group to have aerial tours of Western Germany (Rheine Valley area) "to see with their own eyes what they had helped to bring about".
On Feb 28,1952, just after Allen's 31st birthday, he purchased a beautiful farm on lower Pleasant Valley Road in Sweet Home. His widowed father, Otto, also came to live here with him. Much of the farm equipment from Otto's Ardenwald/Milwaukie farm was hauled to the new place by tractor and trailer which Allen had to drive on 99 E.
Allen never married but he was very close to his six nieces and nephews as they often lived on or visited his farm . (With one nephew being born on the farm in the old farm house).
"The Farm" saw many changes and improvements over the years such as no fencing to all fields being fenced and cross-fenced. He dug-out a pond known as "the Rickman Pond". He planted/harvested grain crops, grew hay, had a cow/calf operation and at various times had other farm animals such as pigs, sheep, ducks, geese, cats. The chickens were always his Fathers business!! For a very short time, an old mare named 'Jo' was brought on to the farm for the older kids to ride. Favorite doggies were Tippy, Poochy, Major and Kota.
Continuing with the skills he learned in the sheet metal industry, Allen had a farm shop where he would repair farm equipment, make fence post/gates and other unique things like a waterwheel and many whimsical "bird/crow" art. He built a saw-mill and made boards from fallen trees. He built a carport/woodshed out of timber from the old 'Bates Bridge" (McDowell Creek Road over the South Santiam River).
In 1960 a very large barn was built with the use of a tractor and pole trees from the farm and some outside lumber. Many other activities happened on the farm: milking cows, feeding the animals, gathering eggs, planting gardens, hunting 'coons', spraying poison oak, killing tangy rag- weed, maintaining natural creeks, etc. This property has a hidden waterfall that makes for wonderful exploration. Allen loved trees and planted several different kinds all over the farm.
In 1984, he had Adair Homes build a new prefab home as the farm house was very old and "a tinder-box". This new home was a great improvement even though it always remained a "bachelor's house"!
Uncle Allen gained eight great nephews and nieces over the years which increased even more to as many great- greats! All visited the farm often sharing time and experiences with their Great Uncle. Hay season always needed helping hands with the freshly baled hay making the fields a great place to learn to drive the old Chev pickup. Allen also enjoyed welcoming the neighbor kids to come over for a visit.
In the 60's Uncle Allen and Grandpa took many vacations which included four of us older kids: Yellowstone National Park, the Tetons, Lewis and Clark Caverns, Grand Canyon, Oregon Caves, the Painted Hills, Crater Lake, Grand Coulee Dam, Mount Rainier and many day trips to the coast, eastern Oregon, Oysterville, WA. and Mount Hood. We will always be grateful to have been included as we had a great time camping out under the stars as there wasn't enough room in the home-made pick-up camper. Remember those sardines & crackers? And the spam sandwiches made on the tail-gate? Many of these trips have yet to be duplicated!
Uncle Allen told us about climbing to the top of Mount Hood with his buddies the summer of '42 just before his enlistment. What an achievement!
Not to be forgotten are his many fence-neighbors and friends in our little valley and those in Sweet Home and Lebanon. Farmers are always visiting one another to share farming ideas, or to help any way they can, or just talk about the world in general. Allen had many good friends over the years - although many had already passed away. He liked to visit local cemeteries and reminisce about the "good ole days".
Allen passed away at home while on Hospice. He was tenderly cared for and watched over till his last breath by his nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Otto and Germaine; brother Daryl Rickman and niece, Genny.
Write-up by niece, Bonnie.
