S.C.R. No. 10

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Lloyd Herbert Hughes Jr., a graduate of Refugio High School, demonstrated conspicuous gallantry in the skies over Europe during World War II, sacrificing his life in defense of his nation and earning the Congressional Medal of Honor; and

WHEREAS, Born in 1921 in Alexandria, Louisiana, Pete Hughes attended Refugio High School, where he was both an academic star and a letterman in several sports; after graduating in 1939, he went on to study petroleum engineering at Texas A&M University; shortly following the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, he answered his nation's call to duty by enlisting in the U.S. Army Air Corps, and he trained as a bomber pilot; and

WHEREAS, Serving with the 564th Bombardment Squadron, 389th Bombardment Group, 9th Air Force, Second Lieutenant Hughes was the pilot of a B-24 Liberator nicknamed "Ole Kickapoo"; on August 1, 1943, he and his crew took part in Operation Tidal Wave, a daring, low-level raid on the Axis oil fields in Ploiesti, Romania, conducted by 170 B-24 bombers; flying last in his formation over a burning oil refinery that had already been hit, his plane was struck by enemy antiaircraft fire and began to leak gasoline in two places; and

WHEREAS, Knowing the consequences of flying his leaking plane low enough to hit his assigned target, Lieutenant Hughes could have broken off, but instead, he elected to complete his mission, flying into the inferno and dropping his bombs on the target; his plane emerged with its left wing on fire, and Lieutenant Hughes and five other members of his crew lost their lives while attempting a crash landing in a riverbed near Câmpina, Romania; two additional crew members later died of their injuries and two others were captured by the enemy; and

WHEREAS, In recognition of his sacrifice and his dedication to duty, Lieutenant Hughes was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military award; his widow, Hazel Dean Hughes, was presented with the medal in April 1944, and the remains of Lieutenant Hughes were repatriated and buried in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio in April 1950; he is the only resident of Refugio ever to earn the Medal of Honor, and the Lloyd H. "Pete" Hughes Memorial Committee of the Refugio ISD Education Foundation is leading an effort to recognize his connection to Refugio by naming a portion of U.S. 77 in his honor and by installing a memorial at Refugio High School; and

WHEREAS, A proud son of Refugio, Lloyd Herbert Hughes Jr. paid the ultimate price while fighting for his country during the most far-reaching conflict in world history, and the citizens of his hometown, his state, and his nation owe him a debt of gratitude that the passage of time can never diminish; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the 87th Legislature of the State of Texas hereby pay tribute to the heroism of U.S. Army Air Corps Second Lieutenant Lloyd Herbert Hughes Jr.; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for his family as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives and Senate.

______________________________ ______________________________

President of the Senate Speaker of the House

I hereby certify that S.C.R. No. 10 was adopted by the Senate on April 19, 2021.

______________________________ Secretary of the Senate

I hereby certify that S.C.R. No. 10 was adopted by the House on April 30, 2021.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House

Approved:

______________________________

Date

______________________________

Governor