Born in Bovina, Texas, May 20, 1920
Graduated from the Turlock, California High School June 1938
Enrolled in the University of California, Davis, August 1939 Plant Science Curriculum-Horticulture
Completed five semesters in residence and withdrew to enlist after Pearl Harbor
Military Service
MILITARY HISTORY
0 727 989
Military Training
Enlisted in Army of the United States as an Aviation Cadet, 7 January 1942.
Jan 1942 to Mar 1942; Air Corps training Detachment (Primary), Kings City, California.
Mar 1942 to May 1942; AC Tng Det, Army Flying School (Basic), Chico, California.
May 1942 to July 1942; AAF Advanced Fly Sch, Mather Field, Sacramento, California.
Graduated from the Aviation Training Program (Pilot), 25 July 1942 and honorably discharged.
COMMISSIONED Second Lieutenant, Air Corps Reserve, 26 July 1942; accepted appointment and entered on active duty same date.
COMMISSIONED First Lieutenant, AUS-AC, 21 July 1943.
Active Service Assignments
Aug 1942; assigned as Pilot, 3d AF, Will Rogers Field, Oklahoma.
Aug 1942 to Sep 1942; Pilot, 44th Bomb Sq (H), Grenier Field, Manchester, New Hampshire.
Sep 1942 to Oct 1942; Pilot, 356th Bomb Sq, 302nd Bomb Gp, AAF, Pueblo, Colorado & Davis-Monthan Field, Tucson, Arizona.
Nov 1942 to Mar 1943; Pilot, 356th Bomb Sq, 94th Bomb Gp, AAB, Biggs F iel d, . Texas, AAB, Pueblo, Colorado.
Apr 1943 to May 1943; Pilot, 410th Bomb Sq (H), 94th Bomb Gp, Smoky Hill AAF, Salina, Kansas, with final assignment to the European Theater of Operations.
In Service 1 year, 4 months and 23 days.
Lieutenant Hecox was killed in action 29 May 1943, over Rennes, France.
Decorations and Awards
PURPLE HEART (Posthumous).
AIR MEDAL*
AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL. EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL with one Bronze Service Star for participation in the Air Offensive Europe Campaign.
WORLD WAR II VICTORY MEDAL.
AVIATION BADGE II PILOT II.
‘For meritorious achievement, while participating in aerial flights against the enemy’
‘Max has helped us so very greatly in the establishment of our Squadrons' combat record, one of which we always can be ever so proud’. Roger A. Stevenson, Major, 410th Bomb Sq, 94th Bomb Gp.
Interment
United States (Saint James) Military Cemetery, France.