{"id":7596,"date":"2026-06-19T14:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-19T14:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=7596"},"modified":"2026-06-19T14:30:00","modified_gmt":"2026-06-19T14:30:00","slug":"honoring-a-hero-at-mcallen-va-clinic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=7596","title":{"rendered":"Honoring a hero at McAllen VA Clinic"},"content":{"rendered":"

Originally published:<\/strong> 2026-06-19T14:30:00+00:00. Historical source article: benefits, rules, amounts and deadlines may have changed. Check the official source for current information.<\/p>\n

Honoring a remarkable life of service<\/h2>\n

The VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System<\/a> (VATVCBHCS) honored 102-year-old World War II hero Veteran Clarence Hicks at the McAllen VA Clinic in March.<\/p>\n

Distinguished service in World War II<\/h2>\n

Hicks served as a Navy pilot during World War II, piloting the Lockheed P2V Neptune\u2014a maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft. His missions led him off the coast of Trinidad, where he searched for German U-boats and helped protect American and Allied ships. His dedicated efforts kept vital supply routes open during the war.<\/p>\n

Family pride and accomplishments<\/h2>\n

Accompanied by his daughter at the celebration, Hicks was recognized not only for his military service but also as a trailblazer in his community. He was the first in his family to attend college, earning a degree from the University of Alabama, and is the proud father of four children. His daughter shared how deeply proud their family is of his long life and remarkable service.<\/p>\n

Honored by VA leadership<\/h2>\n

Homero S. Martinez III, director of VATVCBHCS, personally presented Hicks with a challenge coin and a certificate from VA Secretary Douglas A. Collins, recognizing his bravery and lasting contributions to the Veteran community.<\/p>\n

A lasting legacy and sense of humor<\/h2>\n

Clinic staff describe Hicks as a positive presence, known for connecting with everyone he meets. Staying true to his good humor, Hicks invited everyone present to his 200th birthday celebration during the event.<\/p>\n

Resources for Veterans and families<\/h2>\n

Veterans and their families can explore benefits, health services, and support programs anytime at\u00a0VA.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n

Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs<\/a>. Its Veterans is an independent publication and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

VA honored 102-year old World War II hero Clarence Hicks for a lifetime of service and the positive impact he continues to make in his community.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":136,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7596","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-u-s-veterans-health-care"],"yoast_head":"\nHonoring a hero at McAllen VA Clinic - Its Veterans<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"VA honored 102-year old World War II hero Clarence Hicks for a lifetime of service and the positive impact he continues to make in his community.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=7596\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Honoring a hero at McAllen VA Clinic - 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