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