J.B., as he was called back home, was born and raised in Troy, North Carolina. While growing up, J.B. enjoyed the company of his two sisters Lucille and LaRue. His parents were Mr. Nathan Hicks and Mrs. Beatrice Hicks.

J.B. gratuated from High School in 1939, after that he worked at a shipyard untill he went into Service in September of 1944. After that the trail of J.B. Hicks fades, no one from his former unit, the 345th Infantry Regiment of the 87th Infantry Division remembers him.

The fact that he went into Service in September 1944 probably makes J.B. a replacement. A well known fact is that replacements often were killed in the first days at the front, simply because they lacked decent training and the experience of the older soldiers ... What is known that is the fact that J.B.'s stay at the front was a rather short one ... he was killed on 8 April 1945 at Kleinschmalkalden (Germany).

This is an eye-witness account from Charles Smith who was wounded that day at Kleinschmalkalden ...

"... The 3rd of April 1945, the 3rd battalion of the 345th Regiment was capturing a number prisoners in the days prior to April 7, 1945. 224 prisoners were captured during the first 3 days of April. A number of ambushes by the Germans occurred at this time, especially back in the rear echelons of the regiment ..."

"... Easter Sunday dawned bright and clear. On April 3, regimental companys moved out again and headed north - a new adventure was in store for the 345th. On April 5th the 345th regiment moved another 40 kilometers to relieve elements of the 90th division ..."

"... On April 7, the 3rd battalion moved out with L Company leading, followed by I and K companies. The progress was rapid until the two battalions converged on Tambach - the hub of all roads in the area. Open fields surrounded the City of Tambach offering excellent fields of fire for the enemy. It was here we met the Hitler Youth in great force for the 1st time in the woods. The 3rd battalion encountered a number of road blocks at this time. There were some seventy Nazis dug in on the high ground. Co L lost 20 men wounded and 15 killed here. We were outnumbered by squads at least 2 to 1 and they all had fully automatic weapons. We did not have any supporting fire or cover from M Co (Weapons Company) or Cannon Co. that I know of ..."

The first three men listed here were killed outside of Tambach (near Kleinschmalkalden) :

         Pfc Francis L. Riggins - Petersburg, VA
         2nd Lt. Ralph E Hall (Co L Commander) Muscogee, FL
         Pfc Charles Adams - Enigma, GA.

These days J.B.'s Hicks final resting place can be visited at the American Military cemetery of the Netherlands at the town of Margraten. J.B.'s grave has been adopted by the Webmaster of the In-Honored-Glory Website.

Special thanks to J.B.Hicks's family, Larry Kammerer (Librarian Troy NC), Jeffrey Pope, to Charles Smith and Bernie Diamond (both 345th Inf. Reg.)