Local Purple Heart recipient to be honored

MORIAH | The year 2021 will close out with some good news to look back on regarding a local Vietnam veteran. Newburgh resident U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Oliver Hickok, a two-time Purple Heart recipient originally hailing from Moriah where some of his family members still reside, represented fellow Purple Heart heroes at a multi-day tribute to America's combat wounded this past September. The event — held at the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor located in New Windsor near West Point — was sponsored by the Purple Heart Patriot Project part of the National Purple Heart Honor Mission (NPHHM). "Oliver and his fellow Patriot Project honorees are true American heroes," said Richie Lay, a Purple Heart recipient and chairman of NPHHM. "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." The Purple Heart recipient said his time in the service was "the best thing that ever happened to me. My career brought me to all 50 states and around the world." Hickok, married 60 years, is a proud father of four, a grandfather of 10, and a great-grandfather of six children. His daughter, Kristina Swan, decided to nominate her father to take part in the Patriot Project Mission. She was exhilarated when the nomination was accepted. "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. According to an NPHHM news release, "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." First wounded Jan. 26, 1968, Hickok was later wounded three times Feb. 2, 1968, during Tet Offensive combat. "Hickok was medivacked out to Da Nang, and then to Japan before returning home four months later," NPHHM added. "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, the Vietnamese Campaign Medal with Device, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, the Combat Action Ribbon, and more." Now a life-long 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, Hickok passes on his wisdom and leadership skills to Boy Scouts in New York.

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Local Purple Heart recipient to be honored

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