By Deborah Larsen
Arthur William Heckman
Arthur William Heckman was born in Hartland, Michigan, on May 13, 1924, the son of Arthur and Cora Stiff Heckman. Arthur’s family lived on the Avon Township/Troy Township border and Arthur attended Rochester High School, graduating in the class of 1942. After high school, Arthur was employed at the Ford bomber plant at Willow Run.
In February 1943, Arthur entered the U.S. Navy. After training, he was stationed aboard the battleship USS California. The California had been sunk at her moorings during the Pearl Harbor attack in December 1941, but she was raised, repaired, and returned to service. Arthur was aboard the California when she headed to the South Pacific, where she provided offshore bombardment in support of the campaigns for Saipan, Tinian, Guam, Leyte, and Luzon. Arthur was released from military service in January 1946.
After the war, Arthur married, started a family, and worked for Michigan Bell Telephone Company.
Arthur William Heckman died at age 63 on January 3, 1988, and was laid to rest in Christian Memorial Gardens Cemetery.