LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Walter E. Hughes upon the occasion of
his induction into the New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame on
May 24, 2016

WHEREAS, Members of the Armed Services from the State of New York, who
have served so valiantly and honorably in wars in which this country's
freedom was at stake, as well as in the preservation of peace in peace-
time, deserve a special salute from this Legislative Body; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with long-
standing tradition, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Walter E. Hughes upon the occasion of his induction into the New York
State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame on May 24, 2016; and
WHEREAS, The New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame inductees are
members of any branch of the United States Armed Forces which include
Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force, and Marine Corps; these exceptional
men and women are chosen for this prestigious honor based on either
service in combat or notable work performed after discharge from the
service; and
WHEREAS, Walter E. Hughes was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1925; at
the young age of 12, he worked as a deckhand on his stepfather's tugboat
for three dollars a week; when the vessel was pushed into auxiliary
service at the start of the war, Walter became a merchant seaman at 14;
and
WHEREAS, Four years later, Walter E. Hughes entered into the service
of the United States Army, proudly serving his country during World War
II; as a member of the 82nd Airborne, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment,
he took part in some of the most famous battles and missions of the war;
and
WHEREAS, In 1944, Private Walter E. Hughes made a combat jump into the
Waal River in Holland, during Operation Market Garden, the largest
airborne operation ever conducted; Walter's unit of 240 paratroopers
came under continuous enemy fire from the air and continued across the
river in collapsible paddle boats; even though 48 men were killed in 10
minutes, the mission was deemed a success; years later, a movie, enti-
tled "A Bridge Too Far" was made about this daring operation; and
WHEREAS, This valiant soldier also survived the very dangerous Waal
River crossing at Nijmegan, Holland, coming out with shrapnel wounds to
both his shoulder and back, and was the sole survivor of a mortar attack
launched on the banks of the Rhine River; and
WHEREAS, After this attack, Private Walter E. Hughes spent three weeks
in a Paris hospital recovering from his wounds; after being told his
foot needed to be amputated, he defied medical advice and left the
hospital, returning to the 82nd Airborne aboard a local Red Ball
Express; at the close of the war, he took part in the liberation of Camp
Wobbelin in Ludwigslust, Germany; and
WHEREAS, Private Walter E. Hughes was honorably discharged from the
United States Army after receiving two Purple Heart medals, the Bronze
Star, and France's Legion of Honor; he was honored to have a Belgian
postage stamp issued bearing his image as he charged the enemy in the
renowned Battle of the Bulge; and
WHEREAS, After his discharge in 1945, Walter E. Hughes returned to the
United States and resumed his career in the tug boat industry, motoring
up and down the eastern seaboard, the Hudson River and across our great
Empire State; and
WHEREAS, Walter E. Hughes and his wife, Mary, moved to Port Jervis,
New York, in 1981; the couple were happily married for 56 wonderful
years before she passed away; and

WHEREAS, On October 25, 2015, members of the Walter E. Hughes Tri-
State Mid-Hudson Chapter of the 82nd Airborne Association gathered at
the Erie Trackside Manor in Port Jervis to honor the war hero for which
the association was named, and to celebrate his upcoming 90th Birthday;
and
WHEREAS, Today, Walter E. Hughes is active in veterans' affairs, and
enjoys playing guitar as well as spending time with his friends; a
prolific author, he wrote two books about his life on the water; and
WHEREAS, The banner of freedom will always wave over our beloved New
York and all of America, the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave;
and
WHEREAS, The freedoms and security we cherish as Americans comes at a
very high price for those serving in the military in times of conflict;
it is fitting and proper that we who are the beneficiaries of those who
risk their lives, must never forget the courage with which these men and
women served their country; and
WHEREAS, Our Nation's veterans deserve to be recognized, commended and
thanked by the people of the State of New York for their service and for
their dedication to their communities, their State and their Nation;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Walter E. Hughes upon the occasion of his induction into the New
York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame on May 24, 2016; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Walter E. Hughes.