Christine Robinson, Star-Tribune staff writer

An Arizona resident with Casper ties died Friday in Baghdad of wounds when a road-side explosive detonated near his vehicle, the U.S. Department of Defense announced earlier this week.

Army Pvt. Corey L. Hicks, 22, was an outgoing, talkative man whose job in the Army was to shoot road-side bombs, his stepfather, Timothy Settle, said from his home in Arizona.

He joined the Army less than a year ago, ready to fulfill a dream, Settle said.

"We talked to his commanding officer and he told us that the day he died he personally destroyed five IED's himself," Settle said. "That means he saved up to 40 lives, since each one kills about four or five people."

Settle said he and Hicks' mother, Dawn Settle, spoke with Hicks nearly everyday and Hicks loved his job in Iraq.

Hicks spent most of his life in Arizona, and graduated from Cortez High School in north Pheonix, Ariz., in 2004.

Hicks' father, Russel Hicks, moved to Casper in 2003, and said his son loved the friendliness of people here.

His father described Corey Hicks as a young man with a "passion for animals, the rodeo and outside activities."

"He loved horses, and there were a couple that were his favorite," Russel Hicks said. "One that his godparents had in Montana, Smoky, and one that was mine in Arizona called Country."

Corey Hicks surprised his father with a visit after Christmas, and Russel Hicks said they made plans for future visits to go hunting and fishing.

"He wanted to serve his country," Russel Hicks said. "I am extremely proud of him."

The last time Russel Hicks said he spoke to his son was on the Wednesday before he was killed. He said Corey Hicks had just gotten back from a mission where he and the other soldiers took and returned gun fire.

Corey Hicks was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

Services had not been scheduled but will be in Glendale, Ariz.