The President of the United States of America, authorized by Executive Order 11046, 24 August 1962, takes pleasure in presenting the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” to Sergeant First Class Eugene J. Hicks, United States Army, for valorous achievement during the reinforcement of troops in contact in Mosul, Iraq. Sergeant First Class Hicks’ personal courage and leadership under fire saved the lives of numerous Iraqi Commandos and led to the destruction of a determined enemy. His actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon him, Multi-National Force Northwest, and the United States Army.
NARRATIVE TO ACCOMPANY AWARD:
In late November, while acting as battalion QRF, SFC Hicks and his platoon were called to the 4 West Police Station to provide assistance to the Iraqi commandos who were responding to a complex attack on the station. When SFC Hicks and the platoon arrived, over 90 commandos were pinned down by enemy fire with at least 10 KIA and 17 WIA. As the platoon approached the station, SFC Hicks’ platoon leader, 1LT Nash, had a malfunction with his vehicles .50 cal machine gun. LT Nash instructed SFC Hicks to take his section, bravo section, and focus solely on the enemy threat that was present so that the alpha section could treat the commando casualties. SFC Hicks quickly assessed the enemy situation and immediately began to engage fortified enemy positions. SFC Hicks maneuvered his section between the enemy fire that was originating from the south of the police station in order to provide cover for the wounded commandos and to allow the alpha section to provide aid and also move several destroyed vehicles off the road that were interfering with the evacuation process. While under heavy small arms and RPG fire, SFC Hicks continued to drive the enemy out of the area giving the alpha section the cover necessary to treat the wounded and also keeping the remainder of the Iraqi forces from incurring more casualties. The enemy was fighting from theirconcrete buildings which provided excellent cover from small arms, so SFC Hicks mad the decision to dismount a squad and engage the enemy with AT-4 rockets. During the fight which lasted for over an hour, he led his bravo section in reducing over 15 known fighting positions and helped the platoon kill at least 23 insurgents. As SFC Hicks and the bravo section reached the western end of the ambush, he realized that the last building was especially difficult to reduce. SFC Hicks suggested to LT Nash that he use the OH-58s in support to assist. LT Nash then called for a Hellfire missile to be fired into the building completing the destruction of the enemy. Once the enemy was destroyed, SFC Hicks took the bravo section and set up a defensive position allowing the alpha section to clear the buildings and evacuate the Iraqi casualties. As the platoon defended the police station over the next several hours, SFC Hicks destroyed two RPG teams that tried to engage the platoon from across an open area. His tactical skill, superb marksmanship, and aggressive leadership resulted in no casualties within his platoon, the complete destruction of the enemy, and numerous Iraqi commandos lives saved.