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Ichter was born as one of two sons to Harold Lester Ichter and the former Harriet Ellen Tremayne in Nanticoke, a small [[coal]]-mining community near Reading, [[Pennsylvania]].<ref name=familysearch/> Harold Ichter was an employee of the [[United States Postal Service]] and the Pennsylvania [[National Guard]]; the family was hardly impacted by the [[Great Depression]] because of the father's two paychecks. With the attack on [[Pearl Harbor]] in 1941, the senior Ichter was sent to [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]], [[Louisiana]], to be an umpire for the war games at nearby [[United States Army]] camps. As a result of this move, the younger Ichter came into contact with Southern Baptists. He graduated a semester early in 1943 from Bolton High School in Alexandria.<ref name=familysearch/>  

Ichter was born as one of two sons to Harold Lester Ichter and the former Harriet Ellen Tremayne in Nanticoke, a small [[coal]]-mining community near Reading, [[Pennsylvania]].<ref name=familysearch/> Harold Ichter was an employee of the [[United States Postal Service]] and the Pennsylvania [[National Guard]]; the family was hardly impacted by the [[Great Depression]] because of the father's two paychecks. With the attack on [[Pearl Harbor]] in 1941, the senior Ichter was sent to [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]], [[Louisiana]], to be an umpire for the war games at nearby [[United States Army]] camps. As a result of this move, the younger Ichter came into contact with Southern Baptists. He graduated a semester early in 1943 from Bolton High School in Alexandria.<ref name=familysearch/>  

He served from February 1944 to June 1946 as a corporal in [[General]] [[George S. Patton, Jr.]]'s Third Army infantry in [[Europe]]<ref name=familysearch>{{cite web|url=https://familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/28101155|title=William Ichter - Oral History Project - World War II (1944-1946)|publisher=Familysearch.org|accessdate=March 18, 2017}}</ref> and participated in various [[music]]al groups with the Allied Army of Occupation. His book, ''Who Me, God?'' reflects in part on his military experiences.<ref name=bio/> Harold Ichter was mobilized as part of the 28th Infantry Division but failed his overseas physical because of [[arthritis]] and was instead sent to administer [[prisoner of war]] camps at Camp Livingston in Louisiana and other facilities in [[Texas]] and [[New Mexico]], while son Bill sailed overseas from Fort Dix, [[New Jersey]], and arrived in [[England]] on February 6, 1945, soon sent thereafter into Patton's army. After the war, he toured Rome and recalls the devastation and rampant poverty of postwar [[Italy]].<ref name=familysearch/>

He served from February 1944 to June 1946 as a corporal in [[General]] [[George S. Patton, Jr.]]'s Third Army infantry in [[Europe]]<ref name=familysearch>{{cite web|url=https://familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/28101155|title=William Ichter - Oral History Project - World War II (1944-1946)|publisher=Familysearch.org|accessdate=March 18, 2017}}</ref> and participated in various [[music]]al groups with the Allied Army of Occupation. His book, ''Who Me, God?'' reflects in part on his military experiences.<ref name=bio/> Harold Ichter was mobilized as part of the 28th Infantry Division but failed his overseas physical because of [[arthritis]] and was instead sent to administer [[prisoner of war]] camps at Camp Livingston in Louisiana and other facilities in [[Texas]] and [[New Mexico]], while son Bill sailed overseas from Fort Dix, [[New Jersey]], and arrived in [[England]] on February 6, 1945, soon sent thereafter into Patton's army. After the war, he toured [[Rome]] as part of an Army choir and saw first-hand the devastation and rampant poverty of postwar [[Italy]].<ref name=familysearch/>

In 1949, Bill Ichter with assistance from the [[G.I. Bill of Rights]] completed his bachelor's degree from Baptist-affiliated Louisiana College in [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]] with majors in [[Bible]] and music. While serving in the music ministry of the Istrouma Baptist Church in the capital city of [[Baton Rouge]], Ichter felt the divine call for mission work. He obtained a master's degree from  Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in [[New Orleans]] and continued to serve area churches. In 1956, at his appointment ceremony in [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]], [[Virginia]], Ichter met [[Billy Graham]], who was holding a crusade that week in Richmond and spoke to each new missionary. In 1964, Ichter compiled a crusade hymnal and composed one song himself.  In 1974, Ichter led the 11,500-voice Graham Crusade Choir during the evangelist's appearance in [[Rio de Janeiro]].<ref name=bio/>

In 1949, Bill Ichter with assistance from the G.I. Bill of Rights completed his bachelor's degree from Baptist-affiliated Louisiana College in [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]] with majors in [[Bible]] and music. While serving in the music ministry of the Istrouma Baptist Church in the capital city of [[Baton Rouge]], Ichter felt the divine call for mission work. He obtained a master's degree from  Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in [[New Orleans]] and continued to serve area churches. In 1956, at his appointment ceremony in [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]], [[Virginia]], Ichter met [[Billy Graham]], who was holding a crusade that week in Richmond and spoke to each new missionary. In 1964, Ichter compiled a crusade hymnal and composed one song himself.  In 1974, Ichter led the 11,500-voice Graham Crusade Choir during the evangelist's appearance in [[Rio de Janeiro]].<ref name=bio/>

Ichter returned to Louisiana from Brazil in 1990. In recent years, he has resided in [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]] in  Webster Parish in northwestern Louisiana, where he is active in the First Baptist Church and has been a hospital chaplain. On [[Veterans Day]] 2014, his adopted city of Minden observed "Bill Ichter Day," during which he received from the French consul the Legion of Honor medal, the highest award by that nation. He also won a [[Bronze Star]] in the war. His name was the first to be placed on the Wall of Honor at Minden's Veterans Flag Memorial. The South Webster [[Chamber of Commerce]] awarded him  its "Lifetime Achievement Award."<ref name=bio>"Bill Ichter ('49): Music Missionary to Brazil, ''Columns: The Magazine for Louisiana College Alumni and Friends'', Winter 2016, p. 22.</ref>

Ichter returned to Louisiana from Brazil in 1990. In recent years, he has resided in [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]] in  Webster Parish in northwestern Louisiana, where he is active in the First Baptist Church and has been a hospital chaplain. On [[Veterans Day]] 2014, his adopted city of Minden observed "Bill Ichter Day," during which he received from the French consul the Legion of Honor medal, the highest award by that nation. He also won a [[Bronze Star]] in the war. His name was the first to be placed on the Wall of Honor at Minden's Veterans Flag Memorial. The South Webster [[Chamber of Commerce]] awarded him  its "Lifetime Achievement Award."<ref name=bio>"Bill Ichter ('49): Music Missionary to Brazil, ''Columns: The Magazine for Louisiana College Alumni and Friends'', Winter 2016, p. 22.</ref>