John McHugh Sr. (6 March 1924 – 21 July 2019) was an American World War II veteran who participated in the D Day invasion, the Battle of Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge. He was in the 1st Infantry Division and was awarded the Silver Star and Bronze Star. The State of New York placed him in its Veterans Hall of Fame. His hometown Whitestone, New York has co-named a street after him.
John F. McHugh Sr. | |
|---|---|
 John McHugh Sr. | |
| Birth name | John F. McHugh Sr. |
| Born | 6 March 1924 Union City, NJ |
| Died | 21 July 2019 (aged 95) Whitestone, New York |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service/ | United States Army Air Force |
| Service years | 1942-1946 |
| Rank | Corporal |
| Unit | |
| Conflict | World War II |
| Awards | |
| Spouse(s) | Rosie McGee (August 16, 1947) |
| Children | John, Brian, Tim |
| Other work |
|
Military service edit
After high school graduation in 1942 McHugh was drafted and completed basic training at Fort McClellan in Alabama. After basic training, he went to New York and was transported on the Queen Elizabeth to the United Kingdom. McHugh was in the 1st Infantry Division which landed at Normandy on D-Day and went on to fight at the Battle of Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge. The State of New York placed him in its Veterans Hall of Fame.[1]
D-Day Invasion edit
McHugh and the First Infantry Division (also known as Big Red One) arrived in landing craft at Omaha Beach on D-Day, 6 June 1944, at 7:30am.[2] McHugh and roughly 10 soldiers disembarked. As soon as they exited the landing craft, it was destroyed by a German shell. McHugh had been assigned to carry a tripod for a machine gun, however the soldier carrying the machine gun was killed in action so McHugh began crawling up the beach without a weapon. He spent the day in the sand avoiding German gunfire.[3][4]
Referring to his own experience on D-day, McHugh said, "It's hell day, it really is a hell day. Scared stiff, petrified and running like hell… It was a lot of bodies around, I didn't want to be one of them.”[5] His experience has been cited as emblematic of the dire experiences and vanishing memories of D-Day vets.[4] McHugh sent the money that he earned in the army to his mother (Catherine); his father John was deceased.[6]
Post war edit
When the war ended, he was in the Army of Occupation. After seven months he was honorably discharged with the rank of corporal.[6]
Awards edit
- Silver Star
- Bronze Star
- Army Presidential Unit Citation Presidential unit citations for the Battle of Crucifix Hill and Battle of Hürtgen Forest
- World War II Victory Medal
- Army of Occupation Medal
- European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
- Silver Arrowhead for his participation in the invasion of Normandy.
- Fort Eger badge - awarded by Belgium for McHugh's efforts during the war in Belgium.[7]
Later life and death edit
After the war, McHugh worked as a Transit Authority conductor and a private investigator for a security firm.[6]
McHugh died in his sleep 21 July 2019 at his home in Whitestone, New York.[8] His hometown Whitestone New York approved a street co-named in honor of McHugh in 2019.[9][7]
Personal life edit
McHugh was a first generation American, born in Union City, New Jersey; his parents were Irish immigrants. He came from a long line of soldiers. His father (John McHugh) fought in World War I and was shot six times in the Battle of the Argonne forest and also gassed.[6] McHugh's grandfather fought in the American Civil War.[10][11]
After World War II ended, John McHugh Sr. returned to the United States and married his childhood sweetheart Rosie McGee on 16 August 1947. Together they had three sons: John, Brian and Tim.[1] He had three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.[6]
See also edit
External links edit
- John McHugh Sr. On Fox News June 6, 2019
- DDay-Overlord: a fight for freedom The Normandy campaign: history, documents, testimonies, maps
- U.S. Army's official interactive D-Day website
- Battle of the Bulge – Official webpage of the United States Army.
References edit
- ^ a b "John McHugh, Sr". NY Senate (Press release). New York State Senate. Archived from the original on June 16, 2019. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
- ^ Robinson, Pam (June 5, 2019). "Suozzi Meets With Normandy Veterans". Huntington Now. Archived from the original on December 6, 2019. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
- ^ Katz, A.J. "Shep Smith Conducts Remarkable Interview With 95-Year-Old D-Day Veteran". adweek. Adweek, LLC. Archived from the original on June 8, 2019. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
- ^ a b Wulfsohn, Joseph A. (June 7, 2019). "D-Day veteran John McHugh recalls Normandy invasion: It was hell on earth". Fox News Network LLC. Fox News. Archived from the original on June 11, 2019. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
- ^ Gusoff, Carolyn. "Through Eyes Of A Veteran: Memorial Day Marks 75th Anniversary Of D-Day". CBS Local. CBS Broadcasting Inc. Archived from the original on May 24, 2019. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e Brady, Ryan (December 6, 2018). "A push to honor WWII hero John McHugh". Queens Chronicle. Archived from the original on June 14, 2019. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
- ^ a b Mohamed, Carlotta. "Honorable U.S. World War II hero and veteran John McHugh Sr. to lead Whitestone Memorial Day Parade". qns. Schneps Communications. Archived from the original on June 16, 2019. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
- ^ Brady, Ryan (July 25, 2019). "John McHugh, WWII hero, dies at 95". Queens Chronicle. Archived from the original on December 5, 2019. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
- ^ Brady, Ryan (January 17, 2019). "McHugh co-naming push comes to CB 7". Queens Chronicle. Archived from the original on December 6, 2019. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
- ^ Mohamed, Carlotta (May 17, 2019). "Honorable U.S. World War II hero and veteran John McHugh Sr. to lead Whitestone Memorial Day Parade". QNS. Archived from the original on January 28, 2021. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
- ^ "LND Parade Association Names 2014 Honorees". Queens Gazette. April 23, 2014. Retrieved December 9, 2020.