The activity room of Hudson Memorial Nursing Home was filled with the family and friends of resident Helen Hicks Saturday morning as they awaited the arrival of U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton.
Cotton, R-Ark., was arriving to present Hicks with precious memorabilia that she and her family had waited years to see.
The 89-year-old Hicks, whose birthday is tomorrow, is the widow of retired Army Cpl. Robert Hicks of Dodge City who served in World War II and participated in the D-Day invasion on Omaha Beach in Normandy.
During his tenure in the military, the Army corporal was awarded several medals for his service and accomplishments, medals that would be later destroyed during a fire at his mother’s home.
Bob Hicks, the son of Helen and Robert, sought help with replacing the medals from Cotton’s office.
“For years, mother tried to get his medals,” Bob Hicks said. “Eight months to a year ago, I made contact with Sen. Cotton to see if he could help me get dad’s medals, and he told me he could.”
Upon arrival, Cotton was encompassed with several generations of the Hicks family.
Greeting the family, Cotton learned of the long line of military service and commitment after meeting several veterans within the family.
Cotton thanked the family and audience for allowing him to come by and recognize the World War II hero.
Presenting Helen Hicks with the medals, Cotton said, “One of the great honors in my job is to be able to help veterans and their families get these medals back and have the government recognized their service.”
“I’m really honored to be here today with them and all of you,” he said. “We want to present these to you as a token for our nation’s appreciation to your husband’s service and your family’s service to our nation, so thank you very much.”
The medals presented included the Good Conduct Medal, World War II Victory Medal, European Africa Middle East Campaign Medal, a Marksman Badge and a World War II tab.
Vickie Porter, daughter of Robert and Helen Hicks, attended the presentation with her husband, Toney, a Vietnam veteran.
“It means the world to me,” Porter said in response to having the items restored to the family. “I was a daddy’s little girl. I’m proud of everything my daddy did.”
Bob Hicks, also a veteran, agreed with his sisters sentiment.
“I could at least say I got my dad’s (medals) back, along with my medals,” he said. “My daddy fought hard for them medals. And it’s really a blessing.”
Cotton, a veteran himself, said that it is one of the real pleasures of his job, and is just one of example of what he and his office try to provide for veterans all around the state.
“It’s a genuine honor any time I can present medals to a veteran or a veteran’s family” he said. “To recognize the service of any veteran, especially a veteran of the Greatest Generation is one of the real highlights of my job.”
“It’s not just medals, but ensuring they get their benefits, whether it’s health care once they retire, or … getting access to the veterans mortgages support or 9/11 G.I. Bill or any of the other benefits that our veterans earn throughout their time in the service.”
Cotton encouraged others looking for help with veterans issues, such as proper honors and burials in military cemeteries or getting needed support they are on active or reserve duty, to contact his office.
El Dorado Office, 106 West Main Street, Suite 410, El Dorado, AR 71730, Phone: (870) 864-8582, Fax: (870) 864-8571
Washington, D.C. Office, 124 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC, 20510, Phone: (202) 224-2353
Terrance Armstard can be reached at 870-862-6611 or [email protected].
