The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant First Class Kenneth A. Hicks, Sr. (ASN: RA-16246409), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company A, 72d Tank Battalion, 2d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy on 24 September 1950 in the vicinity of Millim-Ni, Korea. On this date Sergeant Hicks was the commander of the lead tank of a platoon which was supporting infantry elements in their drive toward the Hwang River. The well-entrenched enemy delivered such heavy concentrations of fire that the infantry was pinned down in a rice paddy and was unable to continue its advance. Although without infantry support, and despite the fact that the tank directly behind him could render no covering fire since its machine guns were inoperative, Sergeant Hicks continued his advance. His tank was repeatedly attacked by small bands of enemy troops who attempted to destroy it by laying explosive charges on it. Exposing himself to intense enemy machine gun and small arms fire he remained in his turret and beat off these attackers by small arms afire and by hurling hand grenades. During the advance he killed at least two enemy who attempted to lay mines in the path of his tank. In spite of the overwhelming numerical superiority of the enemy he refused to “button up” his tank but continued his intrepid advance until he had led the platoon to its objective, the Hwang River. The gallantry and high devotion to duty displayed by Sergeant Hicks on this occasion reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.