James Hughes

My mother wore Colonel Hughes' POW Bracelet. She passed in 1998 and I found her bracelet not long after. I kept it with her jewelry and probably around 2008-2009 I decided to see what I could find out about him. Imagine my surprise when I actually found a phone number. I didn't get an answer but left a message. Maybe a week later my phone rang and I didn't recognize the number but answered it anyway. It was THE Colonel Hughes. I had the distinct honor of actually talking with him. What a wonderful, kind and funny man he was. He told me his daughter was writing a book and I never got her name. I felt starstruck and honored speaking with him. The one thing I remember asking before we hung up was "how did you survive being a POW for so many years?" His answer "My sense of humor." And I had the honor of hearing that humor throughout our call. God Bless you Colonel James L. Hughes. Thank you for making my life brighter with your wisdom and sense of humor. RIP

I wore Lieutenant Colonel James L. Hughes POW bracelet every day during the Vietnam War era. He was and still is a hero to me and to the nation.
I have recently given the bracelet to my granddaughter. She is a high school student, and she loves wearing it and showing it off to her classmates and teachers.
Through this bracelet, the legacies of Lieutenant Colonel James L. Hughes and all other heros of the Vietnam War proudly live on.

Thank you so much for your sacrifice and service. A true hero. I wore your bracelet for several years and still have it. Rest in Peace.

I also wore a POW bracelet for Col. James L. Hughes 5-5-67 while my then fiancée was serving in Viet Nam. I put it out each 4th of July with a small U. S. Flag and yellow glass heart. It wasn’t until today that I “looked him up” . So amazing to see a picture and learn a little about Col. Hughes after all these years.

Please let me know if there is a loved one who would like to have this bracelet and I will send it to them.

I wore his POW bracelet when I was in elementary school. The bracelet was recently found in a box of collectibles in my mothers home. I now have it back.

Today I visited the Nixon Presidential library in Yoruba Linda CA. The sad picture of Lt Colonel Hughes was prominently displayed and he was mentioned as surviving Vietnam as a POW. I decided to look him up on my computer and learned more of his history. Whoever reads this will surely thank him and his family for allowing people like me to be proud of his service and sacrifice.
Sincerely,
Rebecca Hodge Strand, daughter of WWII pilot Harold Hodge of Cheney WA

I'm not sure if this is still active, my mom recently passed away and we found James 's pow bracelet that she wore. If you would like to have it I would be happy to send it. My dad also flew in Vietnam, he just turned 88.
Michel Frerker
Thank you for your service.

Rest In Peace Colonel Hughes. Alyce DeLong

I posted last year on the anniversary of Colonel Hughes passing. I am posting again this year to share that I visited Hao Lau Prison, more commonly called by Americans The Hanoi Hilton, in April this year. The prison is now a museum and the exhibits largely focus on the Vietnamese prisoners under French Colonial rule. There is a room dedicated to the US pilots held there during the Vietnam War. I was moved to tears when I saw photos of Colonel Hughes with a short biography in a book that held held the names of just a few of the brave men held there. thank you Colonel Highes for your service. God bless you and your family. Alyce DeLong

To the family of Colonel Hughes,

I proudly wore Colonel Hughes's POW bracelet when I was in junior high school. My father also served in the Korean War and the Vietnam War. By the grace of God, he came home safely and was not taken prisoner. My mother encouraged her three daughters to wear POW racelets to honor our brave service members. I saw Colonel Hughes get off the plane when he came home. We watched the event on television one morning before I went to school. That was more than 40 years ago, but I vividly remember the day and can now feel the tears that ran down my cheeks when I saw Colonel Hughes step off the plane. I now serve our country as a teacher with the Department of Defense Schools. I have thought of Colonel Hughes countless times over the years and always kept his bracelet safely tucked away in my jewelry box through moves to three different countries. God bless your family and Colonel Hughes. My thoughts and prayers are with you on this day of remembrance. He was a true American hero. Sincerely, Alyce M. DeLong, Spesbach, Germany

I have finally finished watching the Ken Burns series on Vietnam. Nothing was more moving than the segment on the homecoming of the prisoners of war and it moved me to pull out my Col. Hughes POW bracelet and research what had happened to him. If any family member would like it, I would love to give it to them. What heroes all of the vets were. I doubt that anyone will truly understand their sacrifices for us.

I have been watching the Vietnam war special on PBS and tonight was the release of the prisoners of war. I was immediately taken back in time to when I, too, wore the POW bracelet for Col. James L Hughes. While I no longer have the bracelet, his name has been imbedded in my memory all these years. It was a great day when I was fortunate enough to see him exit the airplane. My prayers were with him during his capture and I'm now so happy to see that his family was able to spend many years together before his death.

Thank you Col. Hughes for your years of service to our great country, The United States of America.

to any family of col James l hughes I have his pow braclet.maybe that I wore through the entire time of the war. I found this and would like to mail to any family who would like it. I prayed every day for james.

I wore Col Hughes POW/MIA bracelet from 1968 through 1975. I got it while serving in Westpac in the Navy, 1965-1968.

I thought of him daily, all those years, and wondered what he was like, where he was, what became of him, and prayed for hjs well being. My regret is, I never knew until today (July3 2016) the details of his life and return. I would like to have met him.

I had learned somewhere he was released, but no other details, so I took the bracelet off that he might rest and have a peaceful life.

Here's a salute to his bravery, and his courage. Well done Col Hughes.

DG RM3 United States Navy