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Press Releases

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Boozman today honored the lives and service of two Arkansas soldiers who gave their lives in August while in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. 

Sergeant Jamar Hicks is a graduate of Hall High School and was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 4th Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Kentucky. 

Sergeant First Class Ricardo Young is a graduate of Nevada High School and was  assigned to the was assigned to the 738th Engineer Support Company, 307th Engineer Battalion, 20th Engineer Brigade, XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. 

In a speech on the Senate floor, Boozman paid tribute to these soldiers for their selfless sacrifice. 

You can watch the speech here. The following is Boozman’s speech as prepared for delivery. 

Mr. President, Last week we marked the twelfth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon that killed more than 3,000 people. Our fight against terrorism continues today. We can be proud of all that America’s military personnel and the veterans of the Global War on Terror have accomplished as well as the ongoing efforts. 

Many brave Americans put their lives on the line every day to defend this country because terrorists remain committed to harming the U.S. 

Many have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms. We must honor the sacrifice of the men and women who laid down their lives for us. 

Arkansas has a proud history of its citizens serving this country in the military. Many brave Arkansans, including two recently, have given their lives defending our country on the battlefield. We continue to honor the men and woman who have given their last full measure of devotion to protect our nation. 

Sergeant Jamar Avery Hicks sacrificed his life for this country in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. 

SGT Hicks graduated from Hall High School in Little Rock, Arkansas in 2009. One of his former teachers described him as a student who didn’t mind going out of his way to help others and never looked for anything in return. She says she would have taken a whole classroom filled with students like Jamar. 

Those closest to SGT Hicks describe him as a quiet, gentle and unassuming man with an infectious smile who always had a positive outlook on life. 

SGT Hicks joined the Army in November of 2009. His friends say he loved the Army and his military service drove him to continue to improve himself. 

SGT Hicks was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 4th Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Kentucky as a vehicle driver. He gave his life on August 11, 2013, his 22nd birthday, after enemy forces attacked his unit with indirect fire in the Paktia Province of Afghanistan. 

I ask my colleagues to keep his family including his wife Debra, son Jamar Jr. and friends in their thoughts and prayers. 

Most recently the Natural State honored the life of Sergeant 1st Class Ricardo Young as state flags flew at half-staff. 

SFC Young graduated from Nevada High School in Rosston, Arkansas in 1997. His family and friends describe him as fun loving, caring and always full of life. 

SFC Young joined the Army in September 1997. He trained at Fort Benning before his first assignment at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. In his 15 year military career, SFC Young was deployed to two tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan in addition to other missions around the globe. 

SFC Young was assigned to the 738th Engineer Support Company, 307th Engineer Battalion, 20th Engineer Brigade XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. On August 28, 2013 he gave his life in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Farah Province, Afghanistan. 

On behalf of a grateful nation, I humbly offer my sincerest gratitude for the patriotism and selfless service of SFC Young and SGT Hicks. 

Let us never forget the sacrifices of our troops and let their legacies be an inspiration for all Americans.