New "Honorary Marine" Joins Less Than 100 in Marine Corps History

Local man to be awarded "Honorary Marine"
KXXV ABC News
By Taylor Durden
Posted: Nov 28, 2015

Waco Texas

A local man will be honored by the United States Marine Corps as an "Honorary Marine" on Thursday, a title that less than 100 people have been given in the 240 years of the Marine Corps.

Waco native, Rusty Hicks, will head to San Antonio on Thursday to receive the "Honorary Marine" title for his work in helping wounded military men and women.

"Seeing that there was a need, I decided to really get involved and jump in with both feet. I just didn't know how deep I was going to jump in," said Hicks.

Hicks said it all started after 9/11. He felt like he needed to do something patriotic and wanted to help wounded military men and women. Today, Hicks is the executive director of Combat Marine Outdoors, a non-profit organization that has taken over 2,000 combat wounded on fishing and hunting excursions to help with their rehabilitation.

"You get them back into an environment that they used to enjoy before their injury," said Hicks. "And we have seen visible results time and time again. All these warriors want is an opportunity to be treated normal. We don't talk down to them. It is what it is. Let's go have some fun."

Combat Marine Outdoors has taken 55 hunts so far this year and that number is still increasing. Hicks said the number of combat wounded, ill and injured in the U.S. is staggering.
read more here

KXXV-TV News Channel 25 - Central Texas News and Weather for Waco, Temple, Killeen |