Our Thoughts and Remembrances
Image courtesy of Lil Doc's
On
February 8, 2003 a memorial plaque from the Lancer Association was presented to
the family of Pat Hughes. The Honors were delivered by Terry Garlock of the
VHPA Georgia Chapter. The following is the text of his presentation:
Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association Georgia Chapter
Memorial of Carl Patrick Hughes
Presented by Terry L. Garlock
February 8, 2003, Savannah, GA meeting
Today
we honor the memory of Carl Patrick Hughes, a US Army Warrant Officer
Helicopter pilot who died in the service of his country on September 3, 1969 at
22 years old. He flew with the Lancers, 158th Assault Helicopter Battalion
(AHB), 101st Airborne - Airmobile, from Camp Evans in I Corps, South Vietnam.
Reggie
Kenner remembers Pat as short and funny, but Reggie Kenner was 6’ 5”, so I’m
not sure his version of short can be trusted. More importantly, Reggie
remembers Pat as a confident and capable pilot, and Reggie said he always felt
a little better in dawn’s early light when he discovered his assigned co-pilot
for the day was Pat Hughes.
And
Reggie says Pat was quick. One day they went down in the mountains near Eagle’s
Nest. Reggie says by the time the dust settled, and most parts stopped moving,
someone scrambled to open Pat’s door to check on him, but he was already
sitting on the ground smoking a cigarette.
Steve
Crimm flew with the Lancers, too, but Steve didn’t know Pat because their
timeframe didn’t overlap. I didn’t know Pat, either. But he was one of us, so
we all know some things about him, don’t we?
For
example, we know Pat Hughes was tough and smart and tenacious, because if he
was not ALL of those things, he would not have made it through flight school.
The washout rate was 65% when I was there. We also know he served his country
at a time when it was unpopular to wear a uniform.
There
are other things we know about Pat Hughes, because when our country sent us to
war as young men, we learned some things you cannot learn any other place.
Those
who found a way not to serve might have wondered “What must it be like in
battle, would I be
frightened or would I have courage?” But those of us who did serve soon learned
that courage is not the
absence of fear, courage is getting the job done while you’re so scared your
hands shake.
We
learned that when the shooting starts, we’re not fighting for the flag, we’re
fighting for one another.
We
learned what it is to dedicate yourself to a cause greater than your own
self-interest, for no matter what we each thought of the war, as we strapped
in, cranked up and prepared to fly each day, we were motivated by serving our
brothers on the ground. They needed us to take them to battle and take them
out, to bring them ammo, food and water and an occasional beer. They needed our
gun cover and rockets when the enemy was strong. They needed to know we would
pick up the wounded as fast as we could even under fire, and that we would take
our dead brothers, too so they could go home. Our brothers needed us, and
however bad it was the day before, we always had to go.
We
learned firsthand what Admiral Chester Nimitz meant in 1945 when he said
“uncommon valor, common virtue” as he marveled at the brutal punishment
absorbed by US Marines fighting for control on Iwo Jima.
We
all remember the famous photograph of our men raising the flag on Iwo Jima.
James Bradley’s father
was one of those men. Bradley wrote the book titled "Flags of Our
Fathers." As he interviewed the “heroes” of Iwo Jima and searched for the
essence of Adm. Nimitz’s “uncommon valor”, he was frustrated as they each told
him the same thing. “I didn’t do anything special”, they each said, “I just did
my job like the other guys. ”Bradley finally figured out the meaning of Adm.
Nimitz’s observation, and that the real answer was the “common virtue” of
ordinary men and women doing extraordinary things. These Marines suffered
together, they came to love one another, and they fought desperately to keep
one another alive.
And
when some of them were singled out as heroes, they didn’t want to stand apart
from all the others, they took enormous pride in being one of the guys they
grew to love and admire.
That’s
how it was for them, and so it was for us, too.
Admiral
Nimitz’s “common virtue” was there aboard my father’s ship, the Fanshaw Bay, as
they furiously
fought the Japanese Fleet, like David fighting Goliath, to protect our invasion
force when McArthur’s Army
returned to the Philippines. Admiral Nimitz’s “common virtue” was there in my
unit in Vietnam, when two
fellow pilots risked their life without a moment’s thought to rescue me one
day, as just one example. And I
know Admiral Nimitz’s “common virtue” was there with each one of you, and with
Pat Hughes.
Even
though I don’t know some of you, I am proud to be one of you, because I know
some things about you our mothers and fathers taught us to admire. And we know
those same things about Pat Hughes, don’t we?
Those
who have never been to war sometimes wonder why veterans like to gather, like
we’re gathered here today. Some say veterans gather because nobody else can
understand what war is like. But I think it’s more than that. I think we seek
one another’s company because we see in each other what is best about ourselves.
I think we are drawn by the “common virtue” that binds us all together as
brothers and sisters, and I think we are drawn by the often-unspoken memory of
all the others like Pat Hughes who paid the ultimate price for their brothers and
their country.
And
now, as we present this plaque to the family of Pat Hughes, please stand with
me.
B Co (Lancers)
158th Assault Helicopter Battalion (AHB)
101st Airborne-Airmobile Division
Vietnam 1969 - 1972
In Memorial
Carl "Pat" Hughes
Lancer
Aviator
Republic of Vietnam
Camp Evans - I Corps
1969
West from the South China Sea through the Ashau Valley to Laos and beyond
From DaNang Harbor, North to Quang Tri and the DMZ
We depended on him - And he was always there
We most solemnly and sincerely, promise and swear - his uncommon valor
Will be treasured and honored in our memories forever
Now in the High Untrespassed Sanctity of Space
We know he has put out his hand and touched the face - Of God
A
few pictures from the presentation:
Members of Pat's family being presented with
the Memorial Plaque |
Lancer, Ben Peeples, remembering Pat to his
family |
VHPA members and guests stand as the
presentation is made. Lancers, Bill Griffith, Steve Crimm and Ben Peeples are
present. |
Some
remembrances:
From
Al Herold:
I
remember Pat Hughes as being a nice guy - young and innocent. I believe Tim
DeLong arrived about the same time as Pat. I remember seeing the two of them
enjoying dancing with the nurses from the new field hospital. We actually got
several girls to party and dance in our O'Club (on only one occasion as I
recall).
From
Ben Peeples:
I
remember Pat well. Pat was called "Stump" and was a very good natured
and competent pilot. I was on the accident board that investigated the
crash and about a year or so ago, I had a telephone conversation with his
brother.
From
Pat's sister, Theresa:
As
far as memories, I can tell you that Pat and I were best friends most of the
time and worst enemies occasionally. I can tell you that from the time I
started dating until Pat left for Clemson, I never had a date that he did not
approve of. Someone would call, ask me out and I would ask
permission. My father would say I'll check this boy out with Pat and will
let you know. Pat and I were a year and 17 days apart, I still miss
him. He never got to have children of his own, he never saw my
children. I remember when he joined the Army, all he wanted to do was
serve his country and fly a helicopter.
There
are so many memories, I caught him smoking in the tool shed and he hit me in
the head with a crowbar, I had stitches and never told our parents how it
happened. Him and his friend ate the piece of birthday cake I brought him
home, evidently, I was not ready for him to enjoy it, so I shot him with his bee
bee gun, I got a spanking. We grew up in a
happy home, with lots of love and family around, we could fight with each other
but no one else had better mess with us.
My
brother went to Viet Nam serve his country; he did not come home. He left
behind his wife, mother, father, two sisters, a brother and a large family who
loved him. We miss him and are very proud of him.
Thank
you for doing this and for giving us the opportunity to contribute to the
memory page. It is important that we remember all those who serve.
Pictures
from Vietnam. sent to Pat's brother Jon:
Pat
in the Lancer AO Photos by Dan Berry
|
Memorial service and
Missing Man flyover Photos by Dan Martin |
|
|
And
Jon's personal letter:
May
31, 2003
Flight,
Thank
you for remembering my brother Pat Hughes in such a special way with the Lancer
Memorial Page and June ’03 Memory Month. It has been a little over two years
since I stumbled onto the Lancer site. Until then, I did not know much about
Pat’s service in Vietnam, or the circumstances around his death. I was a few
days shy of 9 years old when someone from the Army came to our house to tell us
Pat was missing, and later my parents telling me he had died. Words cannot
describe Pat’s loss, so I will not try. I remember those terrible day’s as if
they were last week. I remember a few good times spent with Pat like going
hunting once, sitting on his lap while riding in his friend’s VW, watching him
play the guitar, and going to see the movie “Green Berets” just before he left
for Vietnam. Pat did some of his helicopter training here in Savannah at Hunter
Army Airfield, and I remember going to his graduation. I remember his wife
Nancy, but have not seen her since the mid 70’s.
Pat
was a 1964 graduate of Jenkins High School here in Savannah. He attended
Clemson University, and was a member of the university’s rifle team. I myself
ended up at Clemson. Pat was a good friend to many and my big brother. I know
of three young men named Patrick in his memory, including my oldest son.
I
have several of Pat’s letters sent from Vietnam, and most are from August 1969
and within 3 weeks of his death. His August 15, 1969 letter was sent to only my
father, a WW2 paratrooper with four combat jumps. Pat must have found out that
Dad was worrying about him and sent a long letter to let him know he was OK and
to stop worrying. His August 30, 1969 letter was full of questions about the family
and told us a little about his missions. “The troops in the A Shau Valley are
being pulled back for the coming of the monsoons. It’s hard to resupply them
when the clouds are so low you can’t see them…. We don’t get shot at but some
of the places we have to go aren’t very good. No sweat if you’re a good pilot.
Like our company motto says, “We can handle it.” We have some outstanding
pilots and I’m learning a lot from them. No sweat. I’ll be home in nine
months.”
I
know Pat’s service in Vietnam was what he wanted to do. I miss him dearly to
this day. If anyone visits Savannah, please visit the Vietnam Memorial in honor
of the 106 citizens who made the ultimate sacrifice.
I
have included a few pictures sent to me from Dan Martin and Dan Berry (thanks
for sending them to me), and the few I had. I met Steve Crimm and Ben Peeples
at the VHPA - Ga. Chapter meeting here in Savannah last February. A very nice
plaque was presented to my family in memorial to Pat. Thanks to Steve for
arranging to present the plaque to my family, and to Ben for sharing some
memories about Pat.
Thanks
again for remembering my big brother Pat.
Jon
Hughes