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[PCUSANEWS] Presbyterian selected as next army chief of


From PCUSA NEWS <PCUSA.NEWS@ecunet.org>
Date Wed, 20 Aug 2003 16:26:56 -0500

Note #7885 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

Presbyterian selected as next army chief of chaplains
03340
August 20, 2003

Presbyterian selected as next army chief of chaplains

By Eric Wester
U.S. Army Chaplain Corps
and Jerry L. Van Marter

ARLINGTON, VA - Maj. Gen. Chaplain David Hicks, a Presbyterian Church (USA)
minister, has been named Chief of Chaplains for the United States Army.

General John Keane, acting Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, hosted ceremonies
promoting Hicks to Major General and appointing him to his new office earlier
this week.

"I am humbled and honored to be given the opportunity to lead the Army
Chaplain Corps," said Hicks. "As a new private years ago, I was brought to
the ministry by the spiritual leadership and support of a Fort Campbell, KY,
Army Chaplain. It has been a great journey and honor to carry the mantel of
service as an Army Chaplain by bringing hope, compassion and courage to
soldiers and their families."

As Chief of Army Chaplains, Hicks serves as the principal advisor to the Army
Chief of Staff on all Army chaplain matters. In addition, the Chief oversees
all Army Active, Reserve and National Guard chaplaincy personnel throughout
the United States and deployed with soldiers in over 120 countries.

More than 500 Army Chaplains and Chaplain Assistants are deployed overseas in
support of the global war on terrorism. Chaplains also serve "back home" for
soldiers in training and family members of those deployed.

Hicks succeeds Chaplain (Major General) Gaylord Gunhus, who served as Chief
of the Army Chaplains since July 1, 1999.

Hicks, who has almost 30 years of Army Chaplain service, previously served as
the Deputy Chief of Chaplains, headquartered at the Pentagon. His appointment
coincided with the Army Chaplain Corps 228th anniversary on July 29, 2003.

The U.S. Army Chaplain Corps is the oldest of the American military
chaplaincies. Currently, there are approximately 2,200 active duty, National
Guard and Reserve chaplains from 120 faith groups serving in uniform
worldwide. The Army Chaplain Corps comprises the largest military chaplaincy
in the world. Since its inception, more than 25,000 chaplains have served in
36 wars and more than 240 major combat engagements.

After attending Princeton Theological Seminary and receiving ordination as a
Presbyterian minister, Hicks entered the Army Chaplain Corps in 1974. He
previously served in the Army infantry from 1958-1967. He re-entered the Army
after completing seminary.

In addition to his Pentagon assignment, Hicks has served at Fort Bragg, NC;
Fort Dix, NJ; Fort Benning, GA; Fort Richardson, AK; and overseas in
Heidelberg and Friedberg, Germany, and in Vicenza, Italy.

Among his numerous awards and decorations are the Legion of Merit,
Meritorious Service Medial with six Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Good Conduct
Medal with 2 clasp, and Humanitarian Service Medal.

Hicks and his wife have three children and one granddaughter.

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