Daniel McHugh's Blog - Posts Tagged "courage"
Veteran's Day
No matter what your views on war may be, there is one truth; Those who serve and have served deserve to be honored for putting themselves in harm's way.
I've always been amazed by the bounty of heroic stories that come from the armed services. It is as if men and women, once they step into that uniform, are transformed and transported to a higher mindset. The premium they place on one another's lives increases while the premium they place on their own life drops.
How many of us in civilian life could sacrifice the way those in the military sacrifice? How many of us could shelve our dreams for the future, discard our sense of entitlement, ignore our needs and suffer for what's right? How many 9 to 5 clock punchers could wake in the dark of night, strap a fifty pound pack on our back and step out to hike the frighteningly dangerous mountains of Afghanistan? How many could rush into the glowing phosphorous of a firefight and retrieve a fallen comrade? How many could muster the grace to negotiate with enemy leaders who surely had a hand in the death of friends?
On June 16th, 1944, my uncle, George McHugh, passed away. Each year I think of his sacrifice and a promising life cut short while fighting for what is right. Here is his story. It is not just a story of dying while engaging the enemy. Instead, it is a story of sacrificing yourself while saving the lives of civilians. The kind of thing that comes naturally to many of those who wear the uniform.
Association records for George McHugh show he flew 31 missions as Pilot with the 526th Squadron from March 26 to June 16, 1944. Our records show missions 89, 90, 91, 93, 94, 95, 97, 98, 99, 100, 103, 105, 107, 109, 111, 113, 115, 118, 119, 124, 126, 133, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 142, 143, and 144. Lt. McHugh may have flown additional missions, but these are the ones we have in our records.
On June 16, 1944, a/c 42-31648, "Ensign Mary", was hit and set ablaze by flak over the target. Lt. McHugh was able to stay with the formation until after the bombs were dropped on the target, and then put the aircraft into a dive to try to extinguish the flames. After ordering the rest of the crew to bail out, Lt. McHugh stayed at the controls to maneuver the aircraft away from the village of Pont Point, France, preventing the airplane from crashing into homes in the village. Lt. McHugh was killed when his aircraft crashed in a field at the perimeter of the village. A monument in his honor was built in the center of the village, and a street was named in his honor. A full account of this incident is included in the 379th Bomb Group Anthology, available from our PX.
Crew on this mission was as follows:
McHugh George, 1st Lt, P, KIA
Peterson Edward I., 2nd Lt, CP, Evaded
Reese Robert D., 2nd Lt, N, POW
Atkinson Charles R., 2nd Lt, B, POW
Groat Russell J., T/SGT, RO, POW
Tullier Lester A., S/SGT, TT, KIA
Shaw J. K. (IO), S/SGT, BT, Evaded
Thompson George, S/SGT, WG, POW
Little Bruce S., S/SGT, TG, POW
The most interesting thing about this story is the firsthand account of the priest of Pont Point, France. He stood in the school's playground yelling to the children of the village to rush inside and seek cover. The roar of engines filled the air and he looked up as a huge bomber ripped the air above the church. Through the window of the cockpit his eyes met those of the pilot. Flames flashed from the control panel, scorching the pilot, but he stayed at his post struggling to keep the plane from slamming into the schoolyard. The young priest lived his entire life convinced that Lt. George McHugh saved the lives of a generation of Pont Point.
On Veteran's Day I like to think about my Uncle George and wonder if I could ever set aside everything for the lives of others.
I've always been amazed by the bounty of heroic stories that come from the armed services. It is as if men and women, once they step into that uniform, are transformed and transported to a higher mindset. The premium they place on one another's lives increases while the premium they place on their own life drops.
How many of us in civilian life could sacrifice the way those in the military sacrifice? How many of us could shelve our dreams for the future, discard our sense of entitlement, ignore our needs and suffer for what's right? How many 9 to 5 clock punchers could wake in the dark of night, strap a fifty pound pack on our back and step out to hike the frighteningly dangerous mountains of Afghanistan? How many could rush into the glowing phosphorous of a firefight and retrieve a fallen comrade? How many could muster the grace to negotiate with enemy leaders who surely had a hand in the death of friends?
On June 16th, 1944, my uncle, George McHugh, passed away. Each year I think of his sacrifice and a promising life cut short while fighting for what is right. Here is his story. It is not just a story of dying while engaging the enemy. Instead, it is a story of sacrificing yourself while saving the lives of civilians. The kind of thing that comes naturally to many of those who wear the uniform.
Association records for George McHugh show he flew 31 missions as Pilot with the 526th Squadron from March 26 to June 16, 1944. Our records show missions 89, 90, 91, 93, 94, 95, 97, 98, 99, 100, 103, 105, 107, 109, 111, 113, 115, 118, 119, 124, 126, 133, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 142, 143, and 144. Lt. McHugh may have flown additional missions, but these are the ones we have in our records.
On June 16, 1944, a/c 42-31648, "Ensign Mary", was hit and set ablaze by flak over the target. Lt. McHugh was able to stay with the formation until after the bombs were dropped on the target, and then put the aircraft into a dive to try to extinguish the flames. After ordering the rest of the crew to bail out, Lt. McHugh stayed at the controls to maneuver the aircraft away from the village of Pont Point, France, preventing the airplane from crashing into homes in the village. Lt. McHugh was killed when his aircraft crashed in a field at the perimeter of the village. A monument in his honor was built in the center of the village, and a street was named in his honor. A full account of this incident is included in the 379th Bomb Group Anthology, available from our PX.
Crew on this mission was as follows:
McHugh George, 1st Lt, P, KIA
Peterson Edward I., 2nd Lt, CP, Evaded
Reese Robert D., 2nd Lt, N, POW
Atkinson Charles R., 2nd Lt, B, POW
Groat Russell J., T/SGT, RO, POW
Tullier Lester A., S/SGT, TT, KIA
Shaw J. K. (IO), S/SGT, BT, Evaded
Thompson George, S/SGT, WG, POW
Little Bruce S., S/SGT, TG, POW
The most interesting thing about this story is the firsthand account of the priest of Pont Point, France. He stood in the school's playground yelling to the children of the village to rush inside and seek cover. The roar of engines filled the air and he looked up as a huge bomber ripped the air above the church. Through the window of the cockpit his eyes met those of the pilot. Flames flashed from the control panel, scorching the pilot, but he stayed at his post struggling to keep the plane from slamming into the schoolyard. The young priest lived his entire life convinced that Lt. George McHugh saved the lives of a generation of Pont Point.
On Veteran's Day I like to think about my Uncle George and wonder if I could ever set aside everything for the lives of others.
