Commemorating the life and legacy of Private Oscar Cleveland Hicks, USA.
Summary
Senate Joint Resolution 285 is a commemorative resolution honoring the life, military service, and sacrifice of Private Oscar Cleveland Hicks, USA. The resolution recounts his upbringing in Henrico, Hanover, and Louisa Counties, his enlistment in the U.S. Army in 1943, and his service with the 79th Infantry Division during World War II, including his participation in the Normandy campaign, the Battle of Cherbourg, and later fighting in France and the Ardennes-Alsace Campaign.
The resolution emphasizes that Hicks was wounded twice, earned two Purple Hearts, and was killed in action in Kaltenhouse, France, on January 23, 1945, at age 19. It also notes the later recovery and repatriation of his remains to Virginia, and the family research that helped reconstruct his story decades later. The measure directs the Clerk of the Senate to present a copy to his family as a formal expression of respect from the General Assembly.
Impact
This resolution does not change state law, create regulatory requirements, or appropriate funds; it is a ceremonial legislative act. Its practical effect is to formally recognize Private Hicks’s service and legacy in the official records of the Commonwealth and to provide a presentation copy to his family. The only affected parties are the Hicks family and, more broadly, the public institutions that preserve Virginia’s commemorative and historical record.
Sentiment
The sentiment around the resolution is strongly positive and unanimous. The bill passed by a 39-0 vote after rules were suspended, indicating broad bipartisan agreement and no recorded opposition. The tone of the text is reverent and celebratory, focusing on sacrifice, heroism, and remembrance.
Contention
There is no substantive policy contention in this measure because it is a memorial resolution rather than a regulatory bill. The only possible point of interest is the historical reconstruction of Hicks’s life through family research and correspondence, but that is presented as a narrative element rather than a dispute. The unanimous vote suggests no disagreement among legislators about honoring Hicks’s service.