[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 42 (Wednesday, March 16, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E321]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TWO TIME PURPLE HEART--J.H. HICKS

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 16, 2016

  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today, it is my honor to pay tribute 
to an American hero and longtime Texan: J.H. Hicks. J.H. served his 
country bravely during World War II, receiving two Purple Hearts. He 
was born in Woodville, Oklahoma on January 10, 1922, but got to Texas 
as fast as he could--moving to Houston in 1927, at the age of 5, and 
settling in Spring Branch for the next 88 years. In 1941, J.H. 
graduated from Reagan High School, however, the months following his 
graduation would be anything but conventional.
   On December 8, 1941, one day after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hicks 
bravely enlisted in the Marines at the age of 18. He was sent to basic 
training in California in 1942 and subsequently deployed to the 
Pacific, where he served with the United States Marine Corps aviation 
unit, MAG-1, over the next 4 years. During his time with MAG-1, Hicks 
was commissioned to a Marine Torpedo Bomber Squadron or a VMTB 
Aircraft. Flying with this VMTB Aircraft, Hicks fought in the Solomon 
Island Campaign, on Munda Island, and in the Battle of Guadalcanal in 
1942.
   While fighting in the Battle of Guadalcanal, Hicks's plane was 
intercepted by enemy combatants and attacked. The attack resulted in 
his plane crashing in the jungle near the Munda airstrip. This crash 
left him with a broken leg, 8 bullet wounds, and was labeled M.I.A. For 
two days, Hicks was missing in the jungle, wounded. After he was found, 
J.H. received a Purple Heart and a battlefield promotion to First 
Sergeant for his sacrifice.
   After four years with MAG-1, a Purple Heart, and a battlefield 
promotion to First Sergeant, Hicks moved back to Houston where he lived 
for two years. After two years of job hunting, he decided to reenlist. 
The Marines were naturally his first choice, given his history, but, 
when the Marines wouldn't recognize his rank of First Sergeant upon 
reenlistment, he opted for the Air Force. While with the Air Force in 
1945, J.H. fought in one of the most important battles of WWII, the 
battle of Okinawa. As a result of the battle, Hicks received his second 
Purple Heart.
   It is heroes like J.H. Hicks who remind us freedom isn't free--
remind us that day in and day out brave men and women put their lives 
on the line, and often sacrifice all, to protect our freedoms. Hicks's 
loyalty, leadership, and patriotism is unparalleled and stands as a 
shining example to the type of people who call Texas home.
   And that's just the way it is.

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