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| Anderson Owen Hubbard
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| NO. 17836 • 28 September, 1924 – 23 October 1952
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| Died October 23, 1952 in an aircraft accident near Pargnan, France. Aged 28 Years.
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It was three years ago today, Son, that you ushered me
into the Cadet Chapel at West Point to hear your class sermon. How happy and
thrilled we were. That was a beautiful June day -
the flrst Sunday in June 1950 ‑ not a cloud in the sky.
Today is another beautiful June day, and I go back in
memory, to three years ago today, and of the past twenty‑eight years. God
let you come into our lives twenty eight years ago, September 28th, 1924. It is
sweet to remember you when you were a baby. Such a beautiful, attractive and
lovable baby. You always drew attention with your winsome ways ‑
friendly, cheerful and always smiling. As you grew into boyhood and manhood you
grew in favor with both your family and friends. You acquired and developed
those qualities which constitute a fine Christian gentleman ‑
friendliness, thoughtfulness, consideration, unselfishness, patience, sympathy,
courtesy and respect. You were a lovable and devoted son and brother, and a
true friend. If it was family or friend that needed your help you always gave
your best. When your advice or opinion was sought your counsel was a result of
consideration and deep thinking.
How proud we were when, at the age of fourteen, you won
the contest of the Pittsylvania County F. F. A. Judging Contest. A Sophomore,
you made the highest individual score, competing with fifty‑three boys
from the Agricultare Departments of Pittsylvania County. You scored 804 points
out of 900. You graduated from Renan High at the tender age of sixteen and
entered college at V. P. I. in Blacksburg, Virginia, at sixteen years of age.
So young to leave home and enter college. You made good during the two years
you were there. On March 23, 1944 you were drafted into the Army. The grief
that came with your departure! You were nineteen, only a boy, so young to be in
the Army. You were sent to Camp McCoy, Wisconsin for training, so far away!
It was while at Camp McCoy that you wrote us one of the
lieutenants there told you that you belonged at West Point and to get your
parents to get you an appointment to the Military Academy. You asked what we
thought, and said if you could get an appointment you would do your best to
make good of the opportunity. We did think well of it and took the proper steps
to get you appointed to West Point by our Congressman, the Honorable Thomas G.
Burch. This was in August 1944. In September 1944 you came home on a furlough.
On November 22, 1944 you sailed on a crowded ship to France. There you were in
General Patton's Army and learned what real war is, what life for a fighting
man on the front line is, and what is meant by "Living Hell". Eating frozen
"K" rations, sleeping in snow and mud, buddies falling by your side,
and weeks without getting letters from home
‑ Oh! that horror!
It was on January 10, 1945 that we received a letter
from Congressman Burch saying: I take
great pleasure in advising that I have nominated your son Anderson Owen Hubbard
as principal candidate for the United States Military Academy. The War
Department informs me instructions were issued directing that Pfc. Hubbard be
given a physical examination. It he is found to be physically qualified for
admission to West Point, his return to the United States to undergo special
preparatory training will be authorized and a letter of appointment will be
issued to him."
At that time you were overseas ‑ hurried to and
fro with hundreds of other privates by General George Patton. You were up in
the front line in combat when you received orders to report to headquarters one
day in March 1945. You were given the physical examination and returned by
plane to the United States. You were sent
to Cornell University during the last of March, where you had strenuous
training, both mental and physical, for three months. On July 3, 1945 we
received another letter from Congressman Burch saying: "I am pleased to
advise that the War Department has notified me that your son Anderson Owen
Hubbard, my principal candidate for appointment to the United States Military
Academy, qualified in the examinations and is being admitted to the Academy
today, July 2, 1945."
The same day we received a letter from Brigadier General
George Honnen, Commandant of Cadets at West Point, dated July 2, 1945, saying:
"Your son has reported for duty as a cadet at the United States Military
Academy, West Point, N. Y. You and he are to be congratulated on his having met
the basic qualifications for entrance. As you no doubt know, this Institution
was established by the United States government to train young men for a career
as officers in the Military Services."
It was on July 2, 1945 that you became a cadet of West
Point. How happy and how proud we were of you!
In October 1945 you received an
injury while playing football and spent
months in the hospital. On March 1, 1946 you were
sent to Florida for two months,
on a sick leave. In May, on Mother's Day, you came home to stay until August
25. How we enjoyed having you home where we could help you regain your health
and strength and how I enjoyed
preparing your favorite foods for you! Then, when you returned to West Point in
August, you passed the physical examination.
At the United States Military Academy you were known as
"Andy".
How happy we were to meet
you in Philadelphia at the Army and Navy football games ‑ Army always
winning! What joyous times for three
years! Then in October 1949 we visited you at West Point. You were a member of
the Regimental Staff. You were the first man on the Plain when there was a
parade. You were an usher in the Cadet Chapel. How I longed for, and dreamed of
the day when you would usher me into a seat in that Chapel to hear your
baccalaureate sermon! That dream came true at 11 A.M. on June 4, 1950 ‑
the first Sunday in June three years ago today. How proud, thrilled and
thankful I was! I felt God had answered my prayers, and I gave thanks to Him in
that Chapel. On Tuesday morning, June 6, 1950, we saw you receive your diploma.
Again I said a prayer of thanks to God and asked Him to protect and guide you
in the future. The thrill of
those days at the Academy in June Week 1950!
After a tour of Europe in June and a visit home you went
to Goodfellow Air Force Base, San Angelo, Texas, for Flight Training. You were
given a choice of branch of the Service and had chosen the Air Force before
leaving West Point. You loved flying. At Reese Air Force Base, Lubbock, Texas,
on August 4, 1951 you got your wings. Then you were sent to Langley Field,
Virginia, and in November 1951 you were sent to France. In March 1952 you
volunteered for a mission to Korea. While there you flew 22 missions. In July
1952 you returned to France via the
United States and had a leave to stop a few days with your family and friends.
You visited with many. 0, my son! ‑ too soon you had to return to France.
At nightfall on October 24, 1952 I was handed a telegram
from Washington, D. C. which read: "It is with deep regret that I inform
you of the death of your son, 1st Lieutenant Anderson 0. Hubbard. He died In
France on October 23, 1952 as the result of injuries received in an aircraft
accident. A letter
containing details will be forwarded to you at the earliest possible date. You
will be furnished information concerning the return of his remains to this
country. Please accept my sincere sympathy in this hour of grief.” Signed,
Major John H. McCormick, Director of Military Personnel.
We were shocked and stunned by that message. Why, 0 why
did it have to be! The sorrow and grief have been so hard to bear.
Then came a letter from your Commanding Officer, Col.
William L. Kennedy, at the United States Air Force Base in France, which read:
"As a member of this wing your son was well liked by all his associates.
He was an excellent officer and a very capable pilot, always performing the
tasks assigned to him in a cheerful and efficient manner, thereby winning the
commendation of his immediate superiors and the respect and affection of his
comrades. His death comes as a real shock to all who knew him and his loss will
be keenly felt by this organization."
A letter written October 28, 1952 by Donald J. Smith,
Major, United States Air Force, Commanding, "In all respects your son
lived up to the standards and traditions of the Air Force. His likeable
personality was compounded with intelligence, common sense, and outstanding
ability as an aviator. The casualty which cost us the life of such a fine
gentleman occurred in an instant. Andy had been flying with a formation of five
other aircraft. They had completed the first phase of their mission and engaged
in single file flying maneuvers with Andy in the lead. His plane was observed
completing a turn and descending rapidly into the ground. No fire resulted. All
available rescue equipment was immediately dispatched. However, upon arrival it
was realized that they were never really needed. The pain of loss can be
alleviated somewhat by the knowledge that death came fast and clean and that
before death, life had been in keeping with the highest ideals of the Armed
Forces and the Nation we serve.
Memorial
services were held here on the base by Chaplain Frank M. Arnold. You would have
been pleased by the wonderful tribute he paid your son. The entire squadron was
present, in addition to many of his friends of the other organizations
throughout the wing. A flyover of his fellow pilots concluded the services as
both the American and French flags were lowered at retreat."
Then came a letter from the Chaplain, Lt. Col. Frank M.
Arnold. He told of the French workers on the base who contributed flowers - 2
large, lovely wreaths which were used in the service ‑ and sent money
contributed by them for flowers for your grave. How touched we were by such an
expression of admiration.
Then Capt. Robert C. Young, your flight commander, who
had charge of the flight on the day of the accident, and who therefore was a
witness, wrote: "There is so much that could be said, but still can be
said in the few words ‑ 'He was loved and respected by all those who knew
him'."
Lt. Louis Branch, from Texas, wrote: "I got to know
Andy quite well while he was in training at Reese Air Force Base, Lubbock, and
found him to be one of the finest fellows I've ever known."
A letter from Lt. Charles W. Hammond in Guam‑"I
was Andy's roommate at West Point for two years. During that time we became
very fast friends and close. During the six years I knew Andy we never had a
quarrel or serious argument. You have lost your son and I have lost my friend.
None of us will soon forget him."
Another letter, signed by Hoyt S. Vandenberg, Chief of
Staff, United States Air Force, said: "Lieutenant Hubbard's military
record was excellent. He was held in esteem by all who knew him for his loyalty
and attention to duty. His fine qualities were disclosed by his
conscientiousness, willingness to assume responsibility, and his consideration
for others. His many friends are saddened by his death."
There were many, many more letters, coming from many
countries and nearly every state in the United States. They were a help, and we
do appreciate them. We are very grateful for their expressions of sympathy and
condolence.
The remains arrived on November 21, 1952. Funeral
services were held in your church at Riceville, Virginia, on November 22. 1952,
and burial followed in the family lot in the cemetery at Gretna, Virginia, with
full military honors.
Then came your medals of achievement, merit and honor.
There are fourteen in all ‑ decorations and awards earned by you ‑
the Korean Service Medal, the Air Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, and others.
You carried the "torch" and held it high. It
was always my prayer that wherever you went, whatever you did, your influence
would be good and that others might see "Jesus in you." Ah memory!,
how sweet" and yet how cruel!
Your Mother, Christine McCormick Hubbard
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USMA 1950