ABHAN Macoy Austin Daniel Hicks, USN
July 12, 1998 – February 11, 2019
USS Nimitz, Bremerton, WA
Macoy Austin Daniel Hicks, 20, left this earth for heaven on February 11, 2019. Born in Newburgh, New York, Macoy was a 2016 graduate of Colonie Central High School.
Macoy served our country in the US Navy, joining at the age of 18, where he entered boot camp in Chicago on February 6, 2017. He was then stationed in Washington DC, serving as a Ceremonial Guardsman, where he served at 6-8 funerals per day at Arlington National Cemetery.
In April 2018 he was transferred to Washington state, where his ship, the USS Nimitz, was drydocked. This was his duty station when he passed.
Some of his hobbies were basketball, hiking, spending time with his friends and family, video games, art and drawing. His talents were making people laugh, making monkey noises, and his bear hugs. Macoy had a beautiful vibrant soul that could put a smile on anyone’s face; he is deeply missed by many.
Survivors include his parents, Michael and Jolee Hicks, his loving sister, partner in crime and best friend Sienna Hicks, his best friend Donny Hall and many other family and friends who love him dearly.
“Fair winds and following Seas, Sailor.”
In response to the tragedy of military suicide, the Hicks family formed a non-profit in Macoy’s memory called “HicksStrong”.
From their website:
“We are the Hicks family: Michael, Jolee, Macoy and Sienna. We have always stood strong together…HicksStrong! With one child in the Navy and the other in college, things were looking up.
On February 11th, 2019 we received the call that would forever change our lives. The person on the other end said “Mr. and Mrs. Hicks your son was found dead this morning”. Our hearts were shattered that day. We do not want other families to know this pain. We do not want our service members to feel alone…EVER!
We are here to help those that need help. There is an overwhelming stigma, across all branches, regarding mental health in the military. Service members feel they cannot talk about their mental health difficulties without losing rank or being dishonorably discharged. They are being told to suck it up, being mistreated by their chain of command and being mocked because of the difficulties with which they are dealing. These are huge factors contributing to why our service members will not seek help with their anxiety, depression, PTSD and suicidal ideations. This is not only unfair and wrong; it needs to stop.
That is why our goal is to connect service members with licensed counselors/therapists in the mental health field so they can truly receive confidential support no matter where they are. We are driven to change the military suicide epidemic by removing the red tape and shortening the gap between serviceman and therapist.
Let us help you find a healthy outlet for dealing with your struggles. Together we can help stop the military service members suicide epidemic and eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health in the military.”
For more information, check out www.hicksstrong.org or HicksStrong Inc. on Facebook and Instagram.
