Walon Newsom Hicks

Walon Newsom Hicks, 91, who served thirty years in the US Army and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel, died at his home in Vienna, Va., on May 25, 2010 of natural causes. He was born on August 21, 1918 in Naples, Texas and worked on farms and at sawmills with his family during his early boyhood years. He entered the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1938 and completed his CCC service in April of 1940. Later during 1940, he enlisted in the US Army prior to the entry of the United States in World War II, and served during the war years in the 679th Field Artillery Regiment as a Warrant Officer and paymaster. The 679th was engaged in active campaigns in the European Theater as part of the U.S. 8th Army, beginning in early 1944 after landing in Naples, Italy and advancing to bombard Monte Cassino. Col. Hicks served in all six active campaigns of the regiment, from Italy, through France, Germany, to what is now Austria and the Czech Republic. Subsequent to the war, he remained in the military and obtained a direct commission in 1948, rising to the commissioned rank of Major. After twenty years, he remained on active duty as a Chief Warrant Officer, CWO4, with the Adjutant General Corps. and retired as a Lt. Col. in 1970. Lt. Col. Hicks was awarded the Bronze Star for his services in the Italian Campaigns and was awarded the Legion of Merit at the time of his retirement from active military duty. Upon retirement, he worked eight years in international trade at American Export Group, Inc., a firm founded by his son and a friend. Walon Newsom Hicks was a founding member of St. Luke's United Methodist Church in Falls Church, Va, having joined the church group whicg became St. Lukes shortly after moving to the Washington Metropolitan area in 1956. He was married sixty-three years to Jewell Elizabeth Lewis Hicks of Naples, Texas. Mrs. Hicks predeceased him in 2005. He is survived by his son, David Hicks of Vienna, Va.

Funeral Home:

Money & King Funeral Home

171 W. Maple Ave.

Vienna, VA

US 22180