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WW II Veteran

Paul HughesAmerican Flag
Interview:  February, 2001
Interviewer:  B. L. Dotson -Lewis
Summersville, WV
Army - WWII  11/30/46 

  I was born in Dunbar, WV in 1926, moved to Whitewater when I was one year old and that is where I grew up.  I attended Whitewater School (a one-room school house) for 7 years, then to Nicholas County High School.  After getting out of high school.  I left for the service.  We went to the Pacific Theater  (8th Division of the 10th Army) after taking my training in Camp Blanding, Florida, to join my company in Okinawa, then on to Korea.  The trip took 56 days on the ship.  We had to stand up to eat, holding on to your tray or you might end up eating someone else’s food. 

The Japanese surrendered the next day after we got there (Capital City) at that time under Japan was Kigo.  I spent 1 ˝ years in Korea 38th parallel line and spent some time in Hawaii.  I left the service in early 1947 and came home only taking 15 days to get back. 

August 20, 1948, I was married to Betty Hartley from Beech Glen.  We have 3 boys and 1 girl, John Wayne Hughes lives at Mt. Nebo with his wife, Carolyn, 1 son – Paul  and 1 daughter – Megan; Larry Allen Hughes lives at Hico with  his wife Charlene and 4 children, Courtney, Dustin, Ashley and Jordan.  Our daughter, Tammy Jean lives at Belva with her husband, Adam Brown and 3 boys, Austin, Bronson and Collin.  Our son, Roger, died at the age of 36. 

We have lived at Boomer for 14 years and then we moved to Falls View and have lived there for 33 years.  We attend Boomer Baptist Church and would like to welcome everyone to come to our church. 

I worked at Elkem Metals in Alloy (formally Union Carbide) for 41 years and retired in 1985.
end of inteview.

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