John McHugh Sr.

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 the 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 nameJohn F. McHugh Sr.
Born(1924-03-06)6 March 1924
Union City, NJ
Died21 July 2019(2019-07-21) (aged 95)
Whitestone, New York
Allegiance United States
United States Army Air Force
Service years1942-1946
RankCorporal
Unit
ConflictWorld War II
Awards
Spouse(s)Rosie McGee (August 16, 1947)
ChildrenJohn, Brian, Tim
Other work
  • Transit Authority conductor *Private investigator

Military service
The 1st Infantry Division's combat service identification badge (CSIB)

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

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

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

Later life and death

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

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 heroically 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]

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]

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See also

References
  1. "John McHugh, Sr". NY Senate (Press release). New York State Senate. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  2. Robinson, Pam (June 5, 2019). "Suozzi Meets With Normandy Veterans". Huntington Now. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  3. Katz, A.J. "Shep Smith Conducts Remarkable Interview With 95-Year-Old D-Day Veteran". adweek. Adweek, LLC. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  4. 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. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  5. Gusoff, Carolyn. "Through Eyes Of A Veteran: Memorial Day Marks 75th Anniversary Of D-Day". CBS Local. CBS Broadcasting Inc. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  6. Brady, Ryan (December 6, 2018). "A push to honor WWII hero John McHugh". Queens Chronicle. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  7. Mohamed, Carlotta. "Honorable U.S. World War II hero and veteran John McHugh Sr. to lead Whitestone Memorial Day Parade". qns. Schneps Communications. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  8. Brady, Ryan (July 25, 2019). "John McHugh, WWII hero, dies at 95". Queens Chronicle. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
  9. Brady, Ryan (January 17, 2019). "McHugh co-naming push comes to CB 7". Queens Chronicle. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  10. Golomb, Robert. "The Little Neck Douglaston Memorial Day Parade: Honoring Our Heroes". The Epoch Times. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
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