Forrest L. Hicks

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Forrest L. Hicks, First Lieutenant, U.S. Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving Navigator of an unarmed, unescorted B-26 aircraft, 6167th Operations Squadron, FIFTH Air Force, deployed over Ullyul, North Korea on 8 December 1953. During a pass on an enemy convoy near Ullyul, the pilot on his crew was severely wounded in the hip. After the engineer brought the ship under control, he called upon Lieutenant Hicks to come to the aid of the semi-conscious pilot, whose senses and strength were failing. The pilot could not be treated in his position, and his chances of survival after a bail-out were negligible. Realizing this, he entreated the crew to bail out and save themselves; but Lieutenant Hicks and the engineer elected to remain with him at great risk to their lives, to give aid and to help get the aircraft back to the base. Facing the rear of the aircraft, Lieutenant Hicks pointed directions and shouted instructions to the pilot, encouraging him to follow his instructions until the field could be reached. Lieutenant Hicks’ calmness during this emergency, his decision to remain in the aircraft, and his aid in monitoring the controls were largely responsible for saving the pilot and the aircraft. Through his high personal courage, tenacity of purpose against great odds, and exemplary devotion to duty, Lieutenant Hicks reflected great credit upon himself, the Far East Air Forces, and the untied States Air Force.