Photo By Master Sgt. Damian Steptore | Sgt. Reshard Hicks, 27th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st...... read more read more
FORT HOOD, Texas — When Sgt. Reshard Hicks was 10 years old growing up in Tallahassee, Fla., his grandparents couldn't seem to stop him from fighting during school. Fourteen years later, Hicks, assigned to the 27th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry
Division, "Long Knives," is still fighting, but found a much better venue at Fort Hood and III Corps' boxing tournament held at the base's Abrams Field House, Sept. 9-15.
The 23-year-old, wheeled-vehicle mechanic became the Fort Hood 154-165 weight-class champion in front of approximately 1,500 screaming fans when he won a unanimous decision against Pvt. Josh Franklin of the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment.
"It felt like all the hard work had paid off," said Hicks, referring to when he received the winning trophy from the III Corps and Fort Hood Commanding General, Lt. Gen. Rick Lynch. "I had accomplished what I set out to accomplish."
Twenty-eight fighters fought during the championship round, consisting of male and female matches between the best fighters Fort Hood had to offer.
"We trained four to five months on conditioning and hands-on whenever possible," explained Hicks. "I also went out to train at an off-post boxing club to gain more experience."
The Long Knife Brigade's leadership was on hand to support their Soldiers, which included Pvt. Danel Jackson and Spc. Jasmine Fudge, both of whom fought for championships within their respective weight classes.
When Hicks held up his trophy, a stream of thunderous applause came from his unit's seating section. On that night, it seemed that Hicks represented every Soldier assigned to the brigade combat team.
"He was great, and showed the most control of anybody tonight," said 1st. Sgt. Curtis Jones, the first sergeant of Co. A., 27th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Cav. Div. "He represented us well because he wanted it the most."
Hicks started serious training even before the brigade deployed to southern Iraq more than a year ago and said having his command's support was key to his success.
"Just to have them here and motivate me like this was very important," he said.
Boxing is more than just a hobby for this combat veteran with three years of military service. Hicks said he plans to one day to retire from the military, but first compete for the All-Army Boxing Team.
He also has athletic prowess and various other sports. Hicks attended college at Florida University on a football scholarship and loves to play basketball, but he said fighting was always in his blood.
| Date Taken: | 09.21.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 09.21.2009 12:35 |
| Story ID: | 39099 |
| Location: | FORT HOOD, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 397 |
| Downloads: | 314 |
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