A Princeton Hero’s Long Road To Recovery After Deadly Drone Attack

For most of us, the dangers of war feel far away.

For Princeton native Sergeant First Class Cory Hicks, those dangers became reality in an instant.

PRINCETON ARMY RESERVIST GRATEFUL TO BE ALIVE

The 37-year-old Army Reservist was serving in Kuwait on March 1st when an Iranian drone struck his military operations center. The devastating attack killed six American service members and left Hicks fighting for his life. For Cory, those were his friends and colleagues.

Today, he is grateful simply to be alive. "Life is precious. Life is short," Hicks said during his recovery.

Get our free mobile app

REMEMBERING THE DEVASTATING MOMENT

The attack happened around 9:30 in the morning inside what Hicks described as a shipping container-style operations center. He remembers seeing the nose of the drone moments before impact.

"As soon as it did, I knew what it was," Hicks recalled. "It was either a missile or a drone."

Seconds later, the explosion tore through the building.

CORY IS RECOVERING FROM SEVERE INJURIES

When the smoke cleared, Hicks had suffered a lacerated kidney, a severed spleen, facial fractures, traumatic brain injuries, and multiple shrapnel wounds throughout his body.

Even more heartbreaking was the loss of six fellow soldiers who were standing nearby. One of them was Master Sergeant Nicole Amor of White Bear Lake. "She was literally five feet from me when it happened," Hicks said quietly.

While Hicks was being rushed into emergency medical care, his wife Shanyn was back home trying to make sense of the terrifying news. A Staff Sergeant in the Army Reserve herself, she had no immediate details about her husband's condition. "I remember just falling to my knees and hyperventilating," she said. "Not having all the information was terrifying."

INTENSE RECOVERY PROCESS

Today, the couple is together at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where Hicks continues an intense recovery process.

A 'GOFUNDME' PAGE HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED TO ASSIST THE FAMILY

In a recent update shared through a GoFundMe page established to support the family, Hicks explained that he continues daily medical appointments and ongoing treatment for traumatic brain injuries, nerve damage, cognitive recovery, and other complications from the attack.

REMEMBER TO CELEBRATE THE SMALL VICTORIES

Although Cory has severe injuries, he has been able to celebrate some victories along the way.

He can jog again. His jaw has healed enough that he can chew food normally. His memory seems to be improving.

OTHER STORIES: Skate Free Charlie Goons For Good Is Back This Weekend

DEALING WITH EMOTIONAL CHALLENGES

Hicks says he has also begun working with behavioral health specialists to address the emotional challenges that come with surviving a combat-related attack.

"Physical wounds can heal," he wrote, "but the mental and emotional aspects of recovery will be a lifelong journey."

The Princeton soldier has dedicated nearly 20 years of service to the United States Army Reserve. Through multiple deployments, he has consistently answered the call to serve.

HOW TO HELP CORY AND HIS FAMILY

Now, the community he has served for so many years has an opportunity to serve him.

A GoFundMe campaign has been established to help the Hicks family with travel expenses, lost income, medical-related costs, and everyday family needs as Cory continues his recovery far from home.  If you would like to contribute to the fund, you can click HERE now.

For those who know Princeton, stories like this hit especially close. Cory is not just a soldier. He is a husband, a father, a business owner, a neighbor, and one of our own.

His story is a reminder of the sacrifices made every day by members of our military and their families. It is also a reminder that behind every headline about war are real people whose lives are forever changed.

As Hicks continues his fight to recover, he carries with him the support of a hometown that is proud to call him one of its own.

If you would like to support Cory, Shanyn, and their two children during this difficult chapter, donations and prayers are both being welcomed. The family says every contribution, share, and message of encouragement helps lighten the burden as Cory continues his recovery at Walter Reed.

KSTP 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS/YouTube