Medals and Citations

Medals and Citations (1)

2011-08-26T00:34:37-06:00

AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

Distinguished Service Cross

Silver Star w/2 Oak Leaf Clusters

Bronze Star w/V device and 1 Oak Leaf Cluster

Legion of Merit w/1 Oak Leaf Cluster

Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry w/Palm

Purple Heart w/1 Oak Leaf Cluster

Air Medal w/14 Oak Leaf Clusters

Joint Service Commendation Medal

Combat Infantry Badge w/Star

Greek Cross of War Class C

(Official Citations with photo of medals starting on the on next page)

Medals and Citations (2) DSC & 3 SS

2021-06-23T02:10:33-06:00

Distinguished Service Cross

Awarded for actions during the Korean War

The President of the United States of America, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant (Infantry) David Ralph Hughes (ASN: 0-62721), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as Commanding Officer, Company K, 3d Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment (Infantry), 1st Cavalry Division. First Lieutenant Hughes distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Sokkogae, Korea, on 7 October 1951. On that date, the company which Lieutenant Hughes commanded was engaged in an assault against a large hostile force occupying a strategic hill. As the battle raged, the enemy, holding commanding positions, hurled countless grenades down the slope toward the friendly troops. This, in conjunction with a heavy volume of small-arms and automatic weapons fire, was responsible for numerous casualties among the assaulting element. From his command post, Lieutenant Hughes observed that his badly decimated force was in imminent danger of annihilation. Rapidly organizing all of the able-bodied men about him, he moved forward to lead a new attack. Reaching the hard-pressed men, he shouted words of encouragement to them and then single-handedly advanced against the enemy positions. Disregarding the concentrated fire of the foe, he charged to the crest of the hill, fired his automatic weapon until it no longer functioned, and then pressed the attack solely with grenades. His audacious assault completely demoralized the enemy and, as he moved among them fighting fiercely, his men charged up the slope and engaged the hostile troops in close combat. Imbued with his fearlessness, the friendly troops fought their way over the crest of the hill, inflicting heavy casualties on the foe and securing the objective.

General Orders: Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 131 (March 6, 1952)Action Date: October 7, 1951

Service: Army

Rank: First Lieutenant

Company: Company K

Battalion: 3d Battalion

Regiment: 7th Cavalry Regiment (Infantry)

Division: 1st Cavalry Division

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First Silver Star

Awarded for actions during the Korean War

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Infantry) David Ralph Hughes (ASN: 0-62721), United States Army, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving with Company K, 3d Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment (Infantry), 1st Cavalry Division, in action on 8 February 1951, near Konjiam-ni, Korea. During an attack against firmly established enemy hill positions, Lieutenant Hughes' platoon was held up by extremely severe enemy mortar, automatic weapons and small arms fire. Realizing the urgency of the mission, he single-handedly charged the enemy position, with complete disregard for his own safety and at great risk to his own life. Completely ignoring seven enemy concussion grenades which were thrown directly at him, Lieutenant Hughes fearlessly rushed the enemy positions, firing his rifle. After firing all of his ammunition he continued moving from one enemy position to another, throwing grenades into their emplacements. During this action Lieutenant Hughes killed or wounded five of the enemy. His aggressiveness and complete disregard for his own welfare contributed greatly in his unit's successful completion of their mission. First Lieutenant Hughes' gallantry reflects great credit on himself and the military service.

General Orders: Headquarters, 1st Cavalry Division, General Orders No. 71 (April 10, 1951)

Action Date: 8-Feb-51

Service: Army

Rank: First Lieutenant

Company: Company K

Battalion: 3d Battalion

Regiment: 7th Cavalry Regiment (Infantry)

Division: 1st Cavalry Division

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Second Silver Star

Awarded for actions during the Korean War

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Infantry) David Ralph Hughes (ASN: 0-62721), United States Army, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving with Company K, 3d Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment (Infantry), 1st Cavalry Division, in action on 28 September 195, near Hyonjo, Korea. On that date, at 2400 hours, an estimated enemy battalion attacked Company K, penetrating the friendly lines at two points. The enemy overran the defensive area, severed all communications, split the company into three different groups and completely disrupted the organization. During the hours of darkness, Lieutenant Hughes, although under continual small arms fire, reorganized the company and commanded it in such a superior manner, that the unit was able to repel and stall the enemy until daylight. Many times during the night, Lieutenant Hughes personally led small groups of men in attacks against hostile strong points, accounting for numerous enemy dead. As a result of his courageous actions, the company defensive perimeter was maintained. Lieutenant Hughes' gallantry reflects great credit upon himself and the military service.

General Orders: Headquarters, 1st Cavalry Division, General Orders No. 327 (October 21, 1951)

Action Date: 28-Sep-51

Service: Army

Rank: First Lieutenant

Company: Company K

Battalion: 3d Battalion

Regiment: 7th Cavalry Regiment (Infantry)

Division: 1st Cavalry Division

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Third Silver Star

Awarded for actions during the Vietnam War

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 8, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Silver Star to Lieutenant Colonel (Infantry) David Ralph Hughes (ASN: 0-62721), United States Army, for gallantry in action against the enemy on 12 July 1967, while serving as Commander of the 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, during a combat operation in the Republic of Vietnam. Colonel Hughes had led his Battalion through a series of heliborne combat assaults in response to local intelligence reports when one of his companies became heavily engaged with a Viet Cong battalion firing from well-protected and camouflaged concrete bunkers. Colonel Hughes landed another company to the west of the enemy positions in a link-up movement but this company was also pinned down by heavy enemy automatic weapons, anti-tank rockets and small arms fire. Colonel Hughes then personally landed with his remaining company and rallied his forces, driving a wedge between the Viet Cong positions. Colonel Hughes led the element through a wide sweep of the Viet Cong positions and upon approaching a canal they were again brought under intense enemy fire. In repeated attempts to move the company forward Colonel Hughes continually exposed himself to heavy enemy fire often rolling and struggling his way through the deep mud between friendly positions. Enemy grazing fire laced the unit's position as he scrambled from man to man in an attempt to rally the company which now had taken moderate casualties. While the casualties were being moved to the evacuation area, Colonel Hughes, still moving under enemy fire, reformed the company and mounted a level of fire that forced the enemy to break contact. He then led the company through a determined drive to link up with his other companies and directed them in the formation of a defensive perimeter that included all elements of the battalion. Throughout the night he went from man to man, directing and encouraging them in order to insure the security of the perimeter. Colonel Hughes' heroic actions were of immeasurable value to the defeat of the enemy force and the successful completion of the mission. Colonel Hughes' personal bravery and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, the 25th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.

General Orders: Headquarters, 25th Infantry Division, General Orders No. 4639 (Douglas 1, 1967)

Action Date: 12-Jul-67

Service: Army

Rank: Lieutenant Colonel

Company: Commanding Officer

Battalion: 1st Battalion

Regiment: 27th Infantry Regiment

Division: 25th Infantry Division

Medals and Citations (3) BSMwV

2011-12-19T15:29:16-07:00

Bronze Stars

First Bronze Star for Valor

CITATION

Second Bronze Star for Valor

CITATION

Medals and Citations (4) Purple Hearts

2011-12-19T21:28:57-07:00

Purple Heart

First Purple Heart

CITATION

Second Purple Heart

CITATION

Medals and Citations (5) Legions of Merit

2021-06-23T02:20:25-06:00

Legions of Merit

First Legion of Merit

2d Legion of Merit

Medals and Citations (6) Air Medals, CIB, JSCOM

2011-12-20T11:51:01-07:00

Air Medals (14)

One Air Medal is awarded for every 5 combat missions. This medal represents 70 Heliborne Combat Assaults where I was the Mission Commander. One Silver Oak Leaf Cluster equals 5 Bronze Oakleaf Clusters.

Air Medal with 2 Silver and 4 Bronze Star Clusters

Combat Infantry Badge (w/Star

Denoting 2 Wars)

Joint Services Commendation Medal

CITATION

To Accompany the Award of

THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
JOINT SERVICE COMMENDATION MEDAL

Lieutenant Colonel David R. Hughes, United States Army

Lieutenant Colonel David R. Hughes, 062721,United States , has distinguished himself by meritorious service as the principal staff Assistant for Counterinsurgency in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (International Security Affairs) from 15 October 1965 to 15 July 1966. The consistently outstanding caliber of his performance in this capacity contributed sigificantly to a more profound understanding at senior policy levels of the U.S. Government of the root causes and means of combating insurgency in friendly areas. His remarkable ability to diagnose the problem and presentthe findings enabled senior DoD officials to communicate more effectively with the Congress and the general public regarding the nature of the challenge to progress in lesser developed nations and the need for a more positive and constructive set of U.S. preventative actions.

As a result of his extraordinary professional talents and his out-
standing personality, Lieutenant Colonel Hughes was able to establish quickly an unusually effective set of relationships with other key officers and senior officials concerned with our overseas defense programs. This resulted in his being consistently able to provide timely and valuable staff support to the Assistant Secretary and his chief advisers on matters affecting DoD interests in this subject area.

His imagination, judgment, and the breadth of his understanding of all of the factors pertinent to U.S. plans and policies in the lesser developed areas of the world resulted in his being able to make a very considerable contribution to the DoD role in this aspect of our security affairs and reflected great credit upon himself, the US. Army and the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

Getting JSCOM Award from Asst Sec Def Adam Yarmolinksi

With family (less too young Edward) I think this was about the only ceremony where I was awarded a medal which the family was invited to attend.

And a whole high ranking Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara civilian staff (with 3 general officers, two in civies) present for the award. Why? My reputation as just an 'Army Lieutentant Colonel' soared after I got national and international attention by writing Sec McNamara's May 18th, 1966 speech redefining the nature (insurgencies) - and our proper response (counterinsurgencies with 'development' - political, economic, social - as our key.) This was in 1966. Which prediction of the next war and became the national strategy to wage it was borne out perfectly 35 years later with 9/11, followed by our wars in Iraq, Afghanistan.

Medals and Citations (7) Foreign Awards

2011-12-20T12:00:38-07:00

Greek Cross of War (Korea)

Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry w/Palm

United Nations Service