PRESS RELEASE: Local Purple Heart Recipient Oliver Hickok to be Honored with Trip to the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, West Point
Moriah Marine Corps Veteran Chosen to Represent New York’s Purple Heart Veterans as Part of the 2021 Purple Heart Patriot Project
(NEWBURGH, NY) – A local Purple Heart recipient has been chosen to be one of the nation’s 2021 Purple Heart Patriot Project honorees. U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Oliver Hickok, a two-time Purple Heart recipient, will represent his fellow Purple Heart heroes as New York’s representative at a multi-day tribute to the courage and sacrifice of America’s combat wounded. The Purple Heart Patriot Project is a program of the National Purple Heart Honor Mission. The all-expense-paid trip includes visits to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, historic Washington’s Headquarters, a special tour of the newly renovated National Purple Heart Hall of Honor and other tributes to service.
“Oliver and his fellow Patriot Project honorees are true American heroes,” said Richie Lay, a Purple Heart recipient and chairman of the National Purple Heart Honor Mission. “America’s Purple Heart veterans have given so much to defend freedom and that sacrifice must always be remembered. We are privileged to be able to provide this unique salute to service for our Purple Heart heroes.”
“Our Purple Heart recipients have made enormous sacrifices for America and this is our opportunity to say ‘thank you’ on behalf of a grateful nation. For some, this will be like the homecoming they never had. We received hundreds of nominations from across the country and we look forward to honoring Oliver for his lifelong sacrifice and service to his community,” said Col. Russ Vernon (Ret.), executive director for the National Purple Heart Honor Mission.
Reflecting on his 18-year military career, SSgt Hickok called his time in the service, “The best thing that ever happened to me. My career brought me to all 50 states and around the world.”
Oliver Hickok first enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in June of 1956 at the age of 17, eventually being stationed in Japan and then Hawaii, before finishing his time in Alabama. In December 1960, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and attended boot camp at Paris Island. From there, he was assigned to Memphis, Tennessee, and then the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in North Carolina, before going on to Okinawa, Japan, and his first tour in Vietnam as part of Operation SHUFLY. After finishing his first tour in Vietnam, Hickok returned to the U.S. and completed several schooling opportunities including the Defense Language Institution and the Army POW Interrogation-Translation School at Fort Holabird, Maryland, before being redeployed to Vietnam with the 7th ITT.
After previously being wounded on January 26, 1968, Hickok was hit three times – in the left shoulder, back and knee – during an attack February 2, 1968 during the Tet Offensive. Hickok was medivacked out to Da Nang, and then to Japan before returning home four months later. He was subsequently assigned to recruiter school at Paris Island, South Carolina, and upon completing the training was then assigned to Recruiting Station Albany, New York, and then worked at Recruiting Station Kingston for two years before being honorably discharged and retiring.
Along with his two Purple Hearts, SSgt. Hickok was awarded numerous medals and commendations throughout his career, including the Good Conduct Medal, the Vietnamese Service Medal with four stars, Vietnamese Campaign Medal with Device, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, the Combat Action Ribbon and more.
Hickok is a life member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), and the America Legion. He also held various leadership roles in the Boy Scouts of America. Married for sixty years, Hickok is the father of four, grandfather of ten, and great-grandfather to six. He was nominated to take part in the Patriot Project Mission by his daughter, Kristina Swan.
The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located just north of West Point, New York, at the site where General George Washington first awarded the Badge of Military Merit in 1782 during the Revolutionary War. The badge, shaped like a purple heart was the forerunner of today’s medal. In addition to creation of the museum, the National Purple Heart Honor Mission was instrumental in the creation of the Purple Heart Forever stamp now issued by the US Postal Service, and the organization was the driving force behind bipartisan legislation establishing the nation’s first official Purple Heart Commemorative Coin, which will be minted in 2022.
Those wishing to learn more about the National Purple Heart Honor Mission or donate to support the Purple Heart Patriot Project should visit www.PurpleHeartMission.org.
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