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WW II Vet presented overdue medal at Dobbins ceremony

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Daniel Phelps
  • 94th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE, Ga. --  An 89-year-old World War II veteran was surprised by a special treat and members of his family during the 94th Airlift Wing commander's call Jan. 10.

U.S. Army Air Corp Staff Sgt. William Hughey and his wife of 50 years were invited to the January unit training assembly as a special guest. What he didn't realize was that they were invited there as a ruse.

Hughey was called up to the stage after an introduction by Col. Brett Clark, 94th AW commander, and presented the Army Good Conduct Medal for his service 70 years ago during WW II.

The award was made possible by Gen. Mark Welsh, Air Force chief of staff, Pam Younkers, CSAF Civic Leader advisor, and officials at the Air Force Personnel Center. The presentation was organized by Clark and the Cobb Chamber's Honorary Commanders Association.

"We have got to rectify a wrong," said Welsh. "He is certainly a pioneer in our Air Force who set the example for all of us."

Hughey had been told that the reason he hadn't received it was because he had to have been under the same command for a year, which he never was because of the war.

"I didn't know the Air Force could be so sneaky," joked Hughey. "I am glad, better late than never."

The WW II veteran volunteered at 18 for the draft in 1942. He reported for duty Jan. 1, 1944.

"I almost didn't get in the war," he said.

His goal was to be a pilot; however, he ended up being a B-17 ball turret gunner.

"If they had let me be a pilot, I could have blown the Luftwaffe out of the sky in six weeks," he said. "Instead, it took me six months as a ball gunner."

During his time, he successfully completed 35 combat flying missions.

"Missions became like you people coming to work every morning," he described. "You don't think about it."

Throughout these missions, Hughey's aircraft sustained heavy fire from enemy aircraft, and on one occasion, was shot down. He and his crew survived the crash landing, and were rescued by Soviets. Hughey also participated in the famous Christmas Eve mission in 1944 in which mission leader Brig. Gen. Frederick Castle's plane endured a head on enemy fighter attack, dropped out of formation and subsequently crashed.

"If I had a 10-foot pole, I could have reached out and touched his airplane," the WW II vet said. "We lost 13 ships in 13 minutes in that fight. I thought I was going to be dead. I thought if I'm going go, I'm going to take as many with me as I could, so I got real cranked up."

Hughey was honorably discharged from the military in 1945 at the age of 20. In 1983, he helped form the Georgia Chapter of the 8th Air Force Historical Society, for we which he is a longtime president.

"Few opportunities in your career come before you like this, to be able to make a presentation to someone from the greatest generation," said Clark. "This was such a privilege. He set a standard that is difficult to eclipse and few of us will have the opportunity to show the grit, courage and fortitude that he has."

(Georgia Public Broadcasting and Senior Airman Christina Norris contributed to this article)