Wednesday, February 21, 2007

One of our own...








Well I’m sure most of you have heard or read about the 1-180th losing one of our own… Sergeant Buddy Hughie of Poteau was killed Monday when his squad was ambushed while patrolling here in Afghanistan. I knew Hughie just because both of us had been in the Battalion for so long and when you have been in the 1-180th for awhile you know everyone. Hughie was a great guy and always had a smile on his face or a kind word to say about anyone. I had the pleasure of riding out on a convoy a few months back with Hughie when we dropped him off out east in Nuristan. Hughie had lots of friends and the Battalion is taking it pretty hard. This was our first soldier lost in over 50 years I mean we haven’t lost a soldier in Combat since the Korean War.

This definitely opened my eyes to a whole new world we’re in. I know War is all around us here but this is the first person I’ve known that has died in a War. Along with that Hughie left behind a wife and a 4 month old baby boy. That really hit home and really made me think about my beautiful wife and daughter. No one wants to leave their family alone and missing them. Hughie definitely didn’t want that for his family, I mean who would. We have a mission to do over here and I want to finish it out and go home to my family and hopefully never walk away from them again. I’m not scared of the War nor do I want to runaway home. I do however hope that the people, who took Hughie’s life, will find their own God and realize the pain they have caused so many...

Here is my news release…


A tragic day for the 1st of the 180th in Afghanistan, as they morn the loss of one of their own. For the first time in over 50 years the 180th lost a soldier in combat. Sergeant Buddy James Huey of Poteau was tragically killed in an ambush around on Monday in the Eastern Province of Nuristan.

Sgt. Buddy Hughie, 25, and his unit were conducting a mission with the Afghan National Army (ANA) and other US Forces in the country's Nuristan Province when the group came under an enemy ambush by Anti Coalition Forces (Taliban). Along with Hughie, 3 ANA soldiers also lost their life in the ambush.

Sergeant Hughie’s body left Afghanistan early Tuesday morning from Bagram, Afghanistan. As for the soldiers of the 180th they will be having their own Memorial Ceremony on Friday to honor their friend and fellow soldier.

"Sgt. Buddy Hughie was a great American," said Lt. Col. Bobby Yandell, commander of the 1st Battalion, 180th Infantry. "Sgt. Hughie was one of those soldiers that you did not have to worry about; he always did the right thing. We mourn his loss, but celebrate the life of a great soldier."

This was Hughie’s second deployment to Afghanistan. His first deployment was in 2002-2003. Hughie left behind his wife and a 4 month old son.


My thoughts and prayers are with the Hughie family and I hope that our Country will do anything and everything they can for Mrs. Hughie and their son. I hope that this week will soon be over and this will be the last Soldier we have to lay to rest…

7 comments:

Bag Blog said...

I am so sorry for the loss of Sgt. Hughie. Certainly, our prayers are with his family and friends as well as his fellow soldiers.

membrain said...

I too want to express my sorrow for your loss and the loss to his family. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.

Anonymous said...

My son was their I got the phone call to tell me That my son was fine but they had sad news that Buddy was killed. I hope my son cames home safe. I will have all of buddys family in my prayers.

Anonymous said...

I am so very sorry for your loss, as I know it is a loss to your unit as well as to his family.

Our prayers are with all of you.

Farewell, Buddy, and Walk with God.

Anonymous said...

This is Buddy's father-in-law, I just want to thank everyone for the kind words and prayers.

Seeing those two green uniforms at our front door at 2140hrs on February 19th was paralizing.

Initially Alexis was just so grief stricken. I do not want to go into detail but you can imagine her shock and grief.

I think 'Lex had an inkling that something was amiss. About 1830 local time that Monday she made the comment that Buddy had not called her yet that day.

We are all doing remarkably well at this point. My daughter, Alexis, is quite a remarkable young lady. She says that she doesn't have to worry about Buddy anymore and that he can watch Cooper grow up every day for the rest of his life.

The night we were notified that Buddy was killed my other son-in-law made a profound statement. Stephen said, "Here we've been sitting around waiting for Buddy to get home, now he's waiting for us to get home."

Once again thank you for everything.

One last thing, if any of you have any pictures of Buddy, maybe you can try to get us a copy.

Michael Callegan

Deloris said...

Sgt. Buddy Hughie is my grandson, he called me Mema. The saddest thing for me is the thought that I will never hear him come in the door and call Mema I'm home. Our family will never be the same without his smiling face around all the time. The first month was terrible, I kept thinking we would wake up from this awful dream. Alexis and little Cooper came and visted us May 16th, and it was such a blessing having her and Cooper here with us, it was like it brought Buddy closer to us. We would like to thank all the 1-180th-Bravo Co. for all the kindness and support, it gives us comfort just to see one of them walk across the yard to our door. We love you all and there will always be a very tender place in our heart for you. We are so very proud of the fine young man he grew up to be. He loved what he was doing, and I really thank all the ones who write about what he did in Afganistan, it comforts us to read about him and his friends while over there. I hope to be able to keep all the letters and news about Buddy so his little Precious son can know all about the man his daddy grew to be, Buddy loved his little family with all his heart and we will cherish Alexis and Cooper. We know Buddy is in Heaven looking down on them and the rest of his family and friends and will be waiting on us to come home to be with him and God someday. When people ask about what Buddy was like I seem to start from his childhood memories, I guess it just brings me comfort to talk about him growing up, and I could talk about that forever. Once again thanks to everyone for all your kindness during our time of grief.

Deloris Hughie

Anonymous said...

I called Buddy a friend, and even more, the older brother I didn't have. My name is Nickelas Talaese. Growing up, I was he big brother for my sisters. New to Oklahoma, Mema babysat my sisters and I. I became fast friends with Buddy's younger brother Dennis,D.J., and could not help but to look up to Buddy as D.J. did, as an older brother. I never told him this out of personal pride, but I think he knew. To me, Buddy was as cool as it got when I was younger and not much changed as I grew older. Buddy played the trombone in the band, I followed him to play the trombone for seven years. Buddy affected my life so much that there is too much to outline in this brief comment. All I have to say is that I'm glad that Buddy will never be forgotten.