Technical Sergeant Hicks was a member of the 608th Air Control and Tactical Warning Squadron, 502nd Troop Carrier Group. On 16 October 1952, he was a passenger on a C-46D Commando transport on a courier run between Kangnung, Korea (K-18) to Pohang, Korea (K-3) when it crashed into the sea killing all 25 servicemen on board. His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.

Hicks was awarded 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.