Louis C. Hicks is a 92 year-old World War II veteran from Austin, Texas. Sadly, life was not easy for Louis in his old age, as he found himself living in poverty with not even enough money to pay for heating in his home, leaving him freezing in the cold winter.
Louis was just starting to lose faith in life when an unpleasant event suddenly turned everything around for him.
It all started when Louis caught someone stealing tools from his shed, prompting the veteran to call the police. When Officer Chastity Salazar arrived on the scene, she immediately noticed how cold Louis’ home was and that he was struggling to get warm. Disturbed by this, Chastity and her fellow officers knew that they had to do something.
“That’s just what we do as police officers,” she said. “I had realized that he’s using the oven. I know that’s not safe. His gas is on.”
Chastity and her fellow officers came together to buy Louis a brand new heater, and to have an electric fireplace installed in his home!
How sweet is this?! @Austin_Police is delivering a free heater to a 92-year-old World War II veteran! An officer who responded to his house last week noticed he was heating it with his stove and oven. Thanks to these officers, he won’t need to do that anymore. ? @KVUE pic.twitter.com/rCvwclXuVW
— Pattrik Perez (@PattrikPerez) January 29, 2019
And the officers did not stop there. Officer Bino Cadenas began visiting Louis regularly to make sure that he was doing alright and had all the necessities that he needed.
Visited Mr. Hicks this afternoon. He’s extremely thankful to everyone who has reached out and has even found lost family members. “From the bottom of my heart ❤️ Thank You”
Big things are coming his way – home improvements, @HonorFlightATX, and community support. Wish list…1/2 pic.twitter.com/iDCGuRIAeG— Bino Cadenas (@Bino_APD) January 31, 2019
Louis was touched by all the help the officers have given him, as he admitted that he would never have asked for help on his own.
“I’ve never had no one to do nothing for me,” the emotional veteran said. “After my mother passed away and left me to take care of my two sisters — nobody never did nothing to help me. You hate to ask anybody ’cause sometimes they’ll frown on you, and I’m a true veteran. I won’t ask. I won’t ask.”
When we asked Mr. Louis C. Hicks how he felt now that he has this new heater, he could not hold back his tears. @KVUE pic.twitter.com/jFD3yICXD2
— Pattrik Perez (@PattrikPerez) January 29, 2019
Chastity explained that she and her fellow officers have gotten a lot back from Louis as well.
“He’s just offered me a lot of kindness, too,” she said. “So to know that he’s also served, and now I’m able to serve and give back to people like him.”
“The things I’ve been trying to do since the ’40s,” Louis said. “I’ve been asking for help and now it just came in. God is good.”
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