“Writing is my heart, watching theatre is a joy and being able to merge the two is indeed a blessing I intend to bring to each and every review.” ~ Carla Wicks
Carla is a Vietnam-era Veteran of the United States Air Force where she served stateside and final duty in Guam. Her post military career has been in Dentistry for over 40 yrs – 34 of those as a Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH) which she continues presently.
She is a Gold Star Mother having lost her oldest son Paul J Stock, III (US Navy) in 1996. Carla has been active with American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. since 2017 and has served on the local, state and National Executive Board.
Currently she is the AGSM National VAVS Rep. and serves her AGSM North/West TX Chapter as Sec/Treas. She volunteers locally at the Ft. Worth VA Clinic in Chaplain Services and with Roll Call of North Texas (roll-call.org) where she started the Female Veteran Meet-up on the monthly “luncheon day” where 500+ veterans attend, as well as escorting WWII and Korea veterans to special events honoring them. She also has been the “Missing Man Table” presenter with Air Power Foundation’s annual Skyball Gala and does other volunteering when they have large activities.
She annually helps the Holiday and Heroes Organization with their Thanksgiving food outreach, assembling food from the Tarrant Area Food Bank to be given to the troops at Naval Air Station/ Joint Reserve Base (NAS JRB) as well as their Christmas gifts extravaganza held in an aircraft hangar at NAS/JRB.
She has been actively writing for over thirty years. Her writing credits include Professional articles published in Dental Assisting and Dental Hygiene journals, Blogs, Anthologies, Collaborator of a Stage Play, as well as her own novel “Summer at Eagle Crest Drive,” an Award-Winning Devotional “That still Small Whisper,” and a Bible study “What HE said.”
She enjoys writing and leading small group bible studies. Over the past ten years she has been active in community theater, over 21 productions, as an Actress, Director and Stage Manager. Carla is also a certified Stephens Minister meeting one-on-one with people in need, has been active in worship choirs, and served as a Lay Leader for a “Walk to Emmaus” 3-day retreat.
Carla works currently as a Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH), Professional Seamstress for “The Buckle” as well as her own private sewing business (Sew What) and with the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA) where she onboards new members and does other administrative tasks. By Spring of 2026 she will be a certified trainer with (Oxygen Advantage) opening her own business to help people improve their health using proper breathing techniques.
She is the last phase of certification with (SAFEProject.us) to be a Military Wellness Workshop Trainer – helping veterans, and those who are involved with the veterans and military, to lead more productive lives and make the transition from active duty to the civilian sector easier.
Her goal is to work alongside the workshop author, Dr. Joel Bennett, to develop a wellness training specific to the Gold Star Community. Carla is passionate about helping others and the veteran/military/Gold Star community is of utmost importance to her.
Carla also enjoys fitness and participates in as many 5k-5milers as she can. She annually does the 5k with Tunnel to Towers in October and the 5miler at (NAS JRB) in Ft. Worth in May.
She loves administrative duties in addition to her professional dental career. Her organization abilities, attention to detail and thoroughness have served well in the many positions she has held and will hold in the future.
She is married to Ken and calls Ft. Worth TX home for over 27 years. She has four biological children, four stepchildren, one adopted granddaughter, thirteen grandchildren and one great-grand daughter.
Endnote
While stationed at Andersen Air Force Base on the northern part of the island, Carla experienced a profound sense of isolation. As a young woman less than a year out of high school, she found herself in a foreign country with few other American women. At that time, the Vietnam War was winding down, yet soldiers remained in the island’s caves.
For her safety, she was instructed never to go sightseeing or hiking alone.
When Carla discovered she was pregnant and returned to the United States, she was met with cruelty, the loss of friends, and disdainful looks. At that time, those returning from service related to Vietnam were not welcomed home.
Carla has been a Christian for over half her life and has a passion for God’s Word. She coupled this fervor with a concentration on prayer. Being open and vulnerable about the good and bad experiences of life has been her focus. Her biblical education has spanned forty-six years including many correspondence courses, bible studies (including ones she has written and led), attending conventions, speaking at retreats/conferences, and Pastoral and Stephen Ministry classes.
She has devoted herself to expand knowledge and mature in the faith. She is an advocate for life-long learning.
Role
- AFSC 70230 = Administrative Specialist / Clerk Typist
- Duties typically included:
- Typing correspondence, reports, and orders
- Maintaining personnel and administrative records
- Processing forms and office documentation
- Supporting squadron or base administrative operations
Context
Andersen AFB was a major B‑52 and KC‑135 staging base supporting Vietnam operations; administrative personnel like Carla were essential to sustaining mission tempo. Vietnam‑Era
Carla served at one of the most critical Air Force hubs of the war. Andersen AFB supported:
- B‑52 “Arc Light” bombing missions
- KC‑135 tanker operations
- High‑tempo logistics and personnel movement
Administrative specialists like Carla were essential to keeping these operations functioning smoothly.
Clerk Typists like Carla were essential to the daily functioning of Air Force units. They ensured commanders, first sergeants, and section chiefs had the administrative readiness needed to lead effectively. Her work supported both classified and unclassified documentation, contributing directly to unit efficiency, personnel accountability, and mission continuity.
Her service reflects the professionalism, precision, and quiet reliability that defined the Air Force’s administrative corps during this era. Though often behind the scenes, her role was indispensable to the success of the mission and the smooth operation of the Air Force’s global presence.
Christian Author • Speaker
Carla Wicks is a Christian author whose writing centers on faith, prayer, resilience, and the transformative power of personal testimony. Her work blends decades of biblical study with lived experience — as a veteran, a mother, and a woman who has walked through profound loss and emerged with a message of hope.
Writing Themes
- Deepening personal faith
- Prayer and spiritual discipline
- Healing through vulnerability
- Turning hardship into purpose
- Encouragement for women, families, and those navigating grief
Background
- National VAVS Chair – Gold Star Mothers/Families (after the loss of her son, Paul J. “PJ” Stock III, U.S. Navy)
- Speaker at retreats, conferences, and podcasts
- Biblical education spanning 46+ years
- Community theater and sewing
Author Voice
Carla writes with openness, honesty, and a deep desire to help others navigate their own valleys. Her work is rooted in the belief that God speaks into everyday life — and that even the hardest experiences can be transformed into purpose.
American Gold Star Mother’s
Carla Wicks is a dedicated advocate whose life of service continued long after her military career. Following the loss of her son in 1996—Paul J. “PJ” Stock III, a U.S. Navy Aviation Structural Mechanic—she has committed herself to honoring veterans and supporting military families.
Through public speaking, community outreach, and veteran advocacy, Carla shares her story with courage and compassion, offering strength to others who have endured similar losses. Her work ensures that the sacrifices of fallen service members are never forgotten and perfectly reflects the core values of Gold Star Mothers: Service, Remembrance, Resilience, and Love.
Carla honors Paul’s memory through:
- Veteran support and advocacy
- Speaking engagements about service and sacrifice
- Community involvement and remembrance events
- Upholding the legacy of her son’s commitment to country
Their stories are forever linked — a sailor’s service and a mother’s enduring love.
Legacy
Carla Wicks’ legacy is one of strength, service, and unwavering love. A United States Air Force veteran, she lived a life shaped by discipline, faith, and a deep commitment to others long before she became a Gold Star Mother. But it was the loss of her son, Paul J. “PJ” Stock III, that transformed her path and gave her life’s work a new and profound purpose.
In the years that followed, Carla chose courage over silence. She became a voice for Gold Star families, a source of comfort for grieving parents, and an advocate for veterans whose sacrifices often go unseen. Through her writing, speaking, and ministry, she turned her own heartbreak into a beacon of hope — proof that even the deepest wounds can become a testimony of resilience.
As an author, she shares stories of faith, healing, and the quiet ways God speaks into a broken heart. As a mother, she carries PJ’s memory forward with grace and determination. And as a veteran, she continues to serve her country by lifting up those who have borne the cost of freedom.
Carla Wicks’ legacy endures in every life she has touched — in the families she has comforted, the veterans she has honored, and the generations who will know PJ’s name because she refused to let his story fade. Her life stands as a testament to love that endures, faith that sustains, and service that never ends.
For her family and community, Carla leaves a legacy of strength, compassion, and purpose.
She is a woman who has walked through the hardest valleys and emerged with a mission to help others find their way. Her life stands as a testament to resilience, to the power of storytelling, and to the enduring love of a mother who continues to honor her son by lifting others.
At the center of Carla’s life is her husband, Ken, the man who has stood beside her through every joy and every sorrow. Their marriage is a partnership built on faith, loyalty, and shared purpose. Together, they have called Fort Worth, Texas home for more than 27 years, building a life rooted in community, service, and steadfast love. Ken has been her encouragement, her steady place, and her companion in the work of honoring their son and supporting others.
Carla is the proud mother of four biological children, four stepchildren, and one adopted granddaughter — each one held close to her heart. Her family continues to grow, now including thirteen grandchildren and one great‑granddaughter all of whom carry forward her strength, her compassion, and her spirit. Her family is her heart — the living legacy of her love, her faith, and her unwavering commitment to those she holds dear.