Private Hicks was a member of the 224th Infantry Regiment, 40th Infantry Division. He was seriously wounded by the enemy in North Korea on 9 June 1953 and returned to duty on 17 June 1953. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in North Korea on 13 July 1953.

Hicks was awarded the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.