Brothers Served Their Country Proudly

During World War II, many individuals served their country proudly in a war that saw a much higher degree of support from the civilian population. While there are many stories such as the one I'd like to share, I'd like to preserve the memories of the brave men who I can proudly call my family.

My grandfathers family called Floyd County, Kentucky home. Floyd County is in the heart of Appalachia in Eastern Kentucky. My grat-grandparents Buck Elam and Julia Hicks had six sons- five of whome volunteered for service in the military and a sixth who chose to remain home with his wife and children yet served nonetheless in a civilian capacity training young men in defense work.

Of the five brothers serving in the military, three chose the navy and two chose the army.

My grandfather, Leonard Hicks, was a member of the 6th Air Base Squadron, Albrook, Canal Zone, serving as overseas tactical sergeant with the Army Air Force. Fortunately, his service never put him into a combat situation.

A brother, James Hicks, served in the European theater and was a part of the 3rd Co., 4th Training Battalion, Ft. Benning,GA. James was injured in battle in Sicily and again and more seriously while serving in France.

Preston Hicks served in the navy aboard the USS Thornton based in Pearl Harbor. His primary duty was a lab technician. The Thornton was among the ships surprised by the Japanese on December 7, 1941, but sustained no casualties, although it did engage the enemy.

Chief Petty Officer Benjamin Franklin "Frank" Hicks was cited twice during his service. He was given the Presidential Unit citation, along with his unit, for his service aboard the USS Atlanta, which was sunk by the Japanese off Guadalcanal on November 13, 1942. He later received a commendation for his service aboard the Atlanta's sister ship, the USS Oakland. The citation, issued by his commanding officer, Captain W.K. Phillips, reads, in part, "The commanding officer takes pleasure in commending you for distinguishing yourself by meritorious service in connection with operations against the enemy during the period 15 November, 1943 through 30 July, 1944, while serving as a leading chief petty officer in the engineering department of the U.S.S. Oakland. Being one of the few men aboard with previous experience with the type of engineering installation installed, you have successfully imparted your knowledge to a large group of relatively inexperienced men... You have supervised and partaken by several guardhouse repair jobs; in successfully completing of these repairs, you have demonstrated outstanding ability and resourcefulness. Your consistent efficiency in combat operations against the Japanese enemy was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States naval service."

Finally, we come to my uncle Samuel Hicks. The term "war hero" is often overused but, in the case of uncle Sam, I feel it is justified. Both Samuel and Frank Hicks were aboard the USS Atlanta when it was torpedoed in the Solomons on November 13, 1942 and both survived. Frank escaped unharmed from the sinking ship, but Sam had a more difficult ordeal. The first Japanese shell struck the Atlanta, barely penetrating the ship's armor. The second hit opened a clean hole through the gun turret, where Sam was a gunner first class. The hole that was opened up allowed Sam an escape route, which he used to dive into the ocean. All 12 of the other members of Sam's crew died in the blast but he was able to survive in the water for 6-1/2 hours until he was picked up by another ship in the same convoy.

While struggling to survive in the oil-slick water, Sam was attacked by a Japanese soldier. He was able to escape the enemy by slipping out of his blouse, leaving it in the hands of the injured Japanese soldier trying to drag him under. As a result of swimming away from the wreckage and the oil, Sam was unbelievably forced to fend off a shark with a clasp knife, which was his only remaining piece of weaponry. Fortunately, Sam was aware that sharks were less prone to attack in the oily water so he swam back into the slick, where he remained until his rescue hours later. "As long as I stayed in oil-covered water, the sharks didn't want any part of me" he said. Badly injured, Sam struggled to stay alive until rescued. He said that he "spent between six and seven hours in the water without a life belt. I had no time to get mine, but I contrived to hook my useless leg over my good one and kept fighting for my life."

Sam Hicks lost his left ear in the explosive attack and sustained burns to his hands as well as 26 pieces of shrapnel in his back, legs and head. After being rescued from the water, Sam sheltered in a Guadalcanal foxhole for three days, receiving basic medical attention from, of all people, his brother Frank until he could be transported to an Australian hospital and, eventually to the United States, where he underwent several surgeries which repaired his injuries so well that his scars were virtually undetectable later in life- a fact which I can verify. Had I not heard Sam tell some of these stories, I would have never known the extent of the injuries he sustained. The quality of plastic surgery in the 1940's was surprisingly good.

In addition to the Atlanta, Sam was aboard two more ships that sunk during the war- a small cargo vessel which was involved in inter-island work near an island reef, and an English ship. For his courageous service and involvement in seven major battles, Samuel was awarded the Purple Heart.

Samuel passed away last year, the last of the Hicks brothers from Floyd County, Kentucky.

I didn't know all of my grandfather's brothers as well as I would have liked to. I knew Sam better than the others and, in addition to being a war hero, Sam was a wonderful storyteller and a funny one at that- a lot like his brother Leonard- my grandfather. I am thankful for knowing those men and especially for having the honor of calling them my family. I can only hope that I inherited some of their integrity and heart.

I never met my great-grandfather Buck Elam Hicks and great-grandma Julia died when I was very young, but it is a testament to their success as parents that they raised children like my grandfather and his siblings. In fact, in 1942, Julia was nominated for the title of National Defense Mother- an honor she deserved without question.

On the 65^th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, now is a good time to remember these men, along with all the others who made sacrifices few of us would be willing to make.