From Navy helicopters to high school sidelines: Spartanburg photo editor reflects on journey
Alex Hicks Jr., a combat photographer with the Navy, took a deep breath as he went over his survival gear.
After traveling from Hawaii to the Philippines in 1996, he still had another 12 hours to go to reach the Naval Support Facility, Diego Garcia, an island in the center of the Indian Ocean.
He realized if he and the pilot had to ditch the plane, they would be stranded in the Indian Ocean, helpless, waiting for hours for a rescue.
When he questioned the pilot, he looked at Hicks and said, "We don’t talk about ditching on missions like this."
The longtime Spartanburg Herald-Journal photojournalist looks back on his time in the military with reverence and fondness, especially on Veterans Day, celebrated each year on Nov. 11.
Hicks enlisted in 1979. Throughout his career, he received multiple honors, including the Navy Commendation medal three times.
"I'm very grateful to my nation," Hicks said. "I wish more people would serve."
'Awesome Al' looks back on Navy experience
Hicks, who grew up in St. Louis and Chicago, remembers the day he joined the Navy on Dec. 28, 1979. His mother cried for two days when he gave her the news. When the recruiters arrived for Hicks, she begged them to let him stay for another 24 hours. With a promise to return for Hicks a day and a half later, the recruiter agreed.
Throughout his time in the military, he lived and worked in more than 100 countries, such as Italy, the Philippines, Australia and Japan.
His Navy cohorts called him "Awesome Al." Nearly everyone in the military is assigned a nickname.
As a combat photographer, Hicks assisted civilian journalists on the ground, while also documenting Naval operations.
He recognized the importance of his position because he helped civilians visualize life and war in the active Navy.
Looking back, Hicks said mechanical failures brought about his greatest fears.
For example, on the coast of Thailand, Hicks sat in a tank-like vehicle. He noticed it began taking water. When he exited the hatch, abandoning his camera gear, he could swim to land.
“But what if we were farther out?” he wonders.
He also hung from a helicopter, attached by a garter belt, to photograph a moving ship. As incredible as this sounds, Hicks viewed those assignments as "standard."
Part of his duty and service.
Hicks follows passion to photojournalism
In 1999, he retired as a Chief Petty Officer, ranking E7, the seventh rank in the Navy.
In the Navy, he selected the job of combat photographer. Hicks also graduated from Syracuse University, studying photography.
Since 2004, he has been working as a photojournalist with the Spartanburg Herald-Journal. He also oversees photojournalists at the Greenville News and Anderson Independent Mail. He lives in Spartanburg with his wife and has a son who is 25.
Hicks' award-winning photo coverage runs the gamut. You may see him on the sidelines at a high school football game, at a breaking news scene or at a parade.
He loves local journalism and photography, all the same as he did during his time in the Navy.
However, he does view his path as surreal.
He says, the "Alex Hicks" photographing Clemson games or presidential campaigns is a different "Alex Hicks." Almost like a stranger to him.
“You have to learn to let things go and move along with your life,” he said. “And when I look at it, that was another person. It’s like I’m looking at somebody else’s life.”
Reminiscing on his time in the military reminds him of how grateful he is for the nation he served, especially when he thinks of the humanitarian efforts provided by the Navy.
He remembers watching people attempt to float in an inner tube from Cuba, often with young children in tow, hoping to be intercepted.
“We have people literally swimming in inner tubes to come to this country,” Hicks said.
Reach Savannah Moss at smoss@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Spartanburg SC photo editor reflects on path. From Navy to local news.
