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George HicksDate of birth: Sept. 7,1924 Dates of service: April 1945 to August 1946Hometown:Clovis Lives in: ClovisTheater and location of serv-* Ice: South Pacific Branch: Army Rank: Private 1st classUnit and specialty: 187th Glider Infantry Unit with the 11th Airborne; chaplain’s assistantIn his words: Trained to jump from airplanes into combat zones, Hicks was mentally preparing himself for the fighting in Japan — he never had to implement the training. Following the surrender of Japan, Hicks’ unit was reassigned to the arctic region of northern Japan and Hicks was redesignated as a chaplain's assistant.“I loved getting out of the machine guns and flame throwers and going into (chaplain work) — it was a wonderful experience ... (but) I did miss getting the chance to jump, he said.Diverse duties fell to Hicks. His responsibilities included everything from typing reports to assisting with burial duties. Hicks also found himself writing letters home — to the families and wives of other soldiers. Many of the men, he recalled, didn’t communicate with their wives and mothers, causing worry and strife on the home front.In an effort to ease this strain he was told to write letters home, soothing and reassuring the frazzled family members.Taking it one step further, Hicks said hewould go and find the errant cads, making them report to his office. They had to come sit down and I watched them write (letters home), he said.Meeting good Christian people, both Japanese and American, was the best part c of ftsjob, he said. While a drastic change,-jTrpm kifaot/y and Airborne, Hicks foundmat his new position suited him well and left him with fond memories of service.“I was very lucky to be a chaplain’s assistant, he said.He returned home from service earlier than planned, given a humanitarian discharge so he could help his elderly parents.
Newspaper Details
Portales News Tribune
Portales, New Mexico, US
Sat, Dec 31, 2005
Page 18
Full Page
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Laura K.
CT, USA 05 May 2018
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