HomeMy WebLinkAbout2nd Lt. Lloyd H. "Pete" Hughes '43 Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor Ceremony
Brinegar promoted to Brigadier General Honoring 2"d Lt. Lloyd H. "Pete" Hughes '43
On 19 May, the next deputy commanding general for Division On 30 March 2009 family members of 2nd Lt. Lloyd H. "Pete" Hughes '43,
West, 1st Army Division, was promoted to brigadier general. presented the Medal of Honor that he received to the Sam Houston Sanders
The official ceremony at III Corps Headquarters would mark Corps of Cadets Center. The ceremony honoring Hughes consisted of
Division West's first official event at their new home in Fort Hood. Hughes' family members, veterans, fellow Aggies and members of the
389`h Bombardment Group Hughes served with during his mission over
Division West is a multi-component organization with the charter of Campina, Romania, during Operation Tidal Wave.
training Army Reserve and National Guard component soldiers for
overseas missions. Brigadier General George Brinegar '82, who is second Also in attendance, was a good friend of Hughes and a fellow Aggie,
in command of the training support division based in Fort Carson, CO., Colonel Harold L. James '43. Colonel James attended pilot training with
is also coordinating the unit's re-stationing to Fort Hood, scheduled for Hughes and was a fellow pilot in the 565°i Bomb Squadron within the 389`x'
completion August, 23 2009. Bombardment Group. He piloted one of the B-24's on the Ploesti mission
over the Steua Romania Oil Refinery near Campina, Romania. "Pete was
General Brinegar said, "The Soldiers, civilians and contractors at Division a great friend and one of the nicest gentlemen you could ever meet," stated
West are looking forward to being contributors to this great Fort James, while attending the ceremony. "He always had a smile on his face,"
Hood community. Fort Hood can look forward to meeting some great added Colonel James.
people. We can be an added value and contributors to the schools, the
community and the post. We are planning to have our Soldiers, civilians, Colonel James was in the last wave of aircraft on the same mission that
and contractors here in July and settled in August before school starts." Hughes gave his life. James was informed about half way to the target that
his plane was burning up fuel at a very high rate and would more than likely
"We are a unique unit that has Soldiers with a unique set of skills," Brinegar not be able to return to North Africa. James continued on his mission and
said. "We have the right kind of trainers to give deploying Soldiers the made his bombing run. He then flew to Gazi Emir Airfield near Izmir,
first-class top-quality training they deserve," he added. Turkey. He and his crew were captured and interned for several months.
Each one of James' crew, including himself, took his turn to be rescued and
Division West has the opportunity to use active duty, Army National returned to England. Colonel James is a living testament to the bravery of
Guard and Army Reserve soldiers as observer-controller trainers. The the men he flew and served with in World War 11.
unit has become extremely proficient at training and Fort Hood provides
the training areas that will help train thousands of service members each The life story of Hughes was given by Colonel (Ret) James Woodall '50,
year. First Army asks soldiers returning from deployment to remain on Commandant of Cadets from 1977 to 1982. Colonel Bryan Bartels '82,
active duty to train fellow service personnel preparing for combat. It is Professor of Aerospace Studies, recited the Hughes' Medal of Honor
the recent combat experience that inherently increases the relevancy of citation.
this mobilization training.
During the ceremony, a presentation of the Medal of Honor to Texas
General Brinegar said that he knows Division West will receive a great A&M was made by the Hughes and Jordan families. The actual medal was
amount of support for its mission from Fort Hood and hospitality presented posthumously to Hughes' widow, Hazel Ewing Hughes, on 18
from the Central Texas community for its move. The local schools April 1944 in a ceremony at Kelly Air Field in San Antonio. The award
will work to make the transition for children easier and Fort Hood was presented by Lt. General Barton K. Yount on behalf of General Hap H.
is prepared to make the move as smooth and efficient as possible. Arnold, Commanding General of the Army Air Force.
This kind of Texas hospitalitv, Hu hes' Medal of Honor has found its permanent home at the Sanders Corps
sense of community and h,% of Cadets Center through the hard efforts of Colonel Woodall. His wish is
willingness to help is Nvhcto bring to A&M all seven Medals of Honor that were presented to the seven
General Brinegar brought his• „ Aggies during World War 11. The medals on display at the Memorial Student
family back to settle in Central l Center are "specimen" medals and are not the actual medals. Currently, the
Texas in 2007. A Texas nati%c,~ Sanders Corps of Cadets Center is displaying four of the seven Medals of
Brinegar was raised in a farming 1 , Honor received be Lt. Lloyd H. Hughes '43, Sgt. George D. Keathley '37,
community 20 miles north of Et.TurnevW. Leonard '4? and Lt. Eli L. Whitlev '41.
Waco. He was a member of a
Company A-1 where he sc-ccd j7-W
as its executive officer his senior s~
year and was also a member of
the Ross Volunteer Company.
More than 180 Aggies, friends
and family members attended his promotion uerrmonc.
General Brinegar has been a member of the Texas Aggie Corps of Cadets
Association for over ten years.
Y
Information and photograph courtesy of the Fort Hood Sentinel
WWW.CORPSOFCADETS.ORG f1w Guidon I 5