On 12 Jul 1921, Lloyd Herbert Hughes, Jr. was born in Alexandria, Rapides Parish, Louisiana, USA. Family and friends called him Pete. He was the only son of Lloyd Herbert Hughes, Sr. and Mildred Mae RAINEY. Mildred was born in Josserand, Trinity County, Texas, USA. (Sources: family genealogy and Statement of Military Service)

On 1 Nov 1923, Mildred Hughes began working as the Postmaster of the Onalaska Post Office in Polk County, Texas, USA. (Source: Postmasters and Post Offices of Polk County, Texas)

On 2 Aug 1924, Mildred married John Raymond Jordan in Onalaska. Mildred Jordan continued as the Postmaster of the Onalaska Post Office until 1 Feb 1925. (Source: Postmasters and Post Offices of Polk County, Texas)

On 24 Jul 1925, the Jordan family increased by one while they were still living in Onalaska, Polk County, Texas, USA. (Source: family genealogy)

On 26 May 1927, the Jordan family increased by one while they were living in Oak Hurst, San Jacinto County, Texas, USA. (Source: family genealogy)

On 1 May 1929, the Jordan family increased by one while they were living in Huntsville, Walker County, Texas, USA. (Source: family genealogy)

On 1 April 1930, John Raymond JORDAN was a laborer working for the railroad in Trinity County, Texas, USA. This family consisted of John, his wife Mildred and her son Lloyd, and their three sons "James, Raymon and Curtis." (Source: 1930 US Census Records of Trinity County, Texas)

On 21 Dec 1931, the Jordan family increased by one while they were living in Josserand, Trinity County, Texas, USA. (Source: family genealogy)

Between 21 Dec 1931 and 1 Apr 1935, the family moved to Refugio, Refugio County, Texas and lived on Plasuela Street. Pete was friends with Benny Jones, Will Borgland, John Borglund, Dick Bartow and Rex Pitzer. In high school, Pete participated in basketball, tennis, track and dramatics. He was an offensive end for the school football team, the Bobcats, and president of the Glee Club. (Source: Refugio County Press)

Pete had 15½ units from high school: English, Spanish, Civics, General Science, Algebra, Plane Geometry, Typing, Public Speaking, Ancient History and American History. He also took a class in something called “M. History” which may have been Modern History, or Military History. (Source: Texas A&M transcript)

Sometime between 1937 and 1939, Pete's parents and younger half siblings moved to Corpus Christi, Nueces County, Texas, USA. Pete stayed to finish out his high school years in Refugio High School.

Prior to going off to college and possibly while still in high school, Pete had an ice route and a newspaper route. He also worked as an usher and an oil field worker. (Source: Texas A&M transcript)

In the Spring of 1939, Pete graduated from Refugio High School, Refugio, Refugio County, Texas, USA. (photo) He had an average of 86.2. (Source: Texas A&M transcript)

On 20 Sep 1939, the Jordan family was living at 915 11th Street in Corpus Christi, Nueces County, Texas, USA. (Source: Texas A&M transcript)

On 20 Sep 1939, Pete became part of the Texas A&M Class of 1943 when he entered the Agricultural & Mechanical College of Texas (which became Texas A&M University in 1963) in College Station, Brazos County, Texas, USA. (Source: Texas A&M transcript)

Pete was 6 foot 2 inches tall and weighed 184 pounds. He was interested in a career in the oil industry and was majoring in Petroleum Engineering. He liked English, science and typing and found Spanish and public speaking difficult. Pete’s religious affiliation was Methodist. (Source: Texas A&M transcript)

For his first semester at Texas A&M, Pete signed up for eight classes: General Inorganic Chemistry, Mechanical Drawing, Rhetoric and Composition, Algebra, Plane Trigonometry, Engineering Problems, Infantry Military Science and Freshman Physical Education. He did not do well. (Source: Texas A&M transcript)

On 4 Jan 1940, an article entitled, "Lloyd Hughes Returns To College Station" was printed stating that on the 3rd, Pete returned to Texas A&M, College Station, Brazos County, Texas, USA, after visiting his family in Corpus Christi, Nueces County, Texas, USA.

As of 16 Feb 1940, Pete was living at 1230 15th Street, Corpus Christi, Nueces County, Texas, USA. He had enrolled in Corpus Christi Junior College (C.C.J.C.) (which became Del Mar College in 1948) in Corpus Christi, Nueces County, Texas, USA. Identified as the Spring Semester 1939-1940, he took an English class and two Math classes. (Source: Del Mar transcript)

About Sep 1940, Pete started the Fall Semester at C.C.J.C. He signed up for five classes: Chemistry, English, Drawing and two Mathematics classes, Algebra and Trigonometry. (Source: Del Mar transcript)

In this same time period, Pete met Mary Margaret Baucom. He gave her "The Complete Works of O. Henry", a book by O. Henry, and signed it "My One Big Mistake." A picture of them also appeared in C.C.J.C.'s 1940 annual, The Cruiser which he signed.

About Feb 1941, Pete started the Spring Semester at C.C.J.C. He took Government, Chemistry, Mathematics and English. (Source: Del Mar transcript)

On 18 Jun 1941, Pete's C.C.J.C. transcript was sent to Texas A&M. In all, he had earned 26 grade points at C.C.J.C., of which 25 grade points were accepted by Texas A&M as being transferred. (Source: Del Mar transcript)

In Sep 1941, Pete was back at Texas A&M College in College Station, Brazos County, Texas, USA for his second semester. He signed up for five classes: Quantitative Analysis, Engineering Problems, Analytics, Infantry Military Science and a class abbreviated as “Dex. Geometry” which may have been an abbreviation or typo for "Descriptive Geometry." (Source: Texas A&M transcript)

As of 1 Nov 1941, Pete was passing all of his classes, but a month later was not doing as well. (Source: Texas A&M transcript)

On 3 Dec 1941, Pete resigned from Texas A&M College for “personal reasons” and received no grades for the semester. He left school because his stepfather was sick and his mother was at home with Pete's four younger half brothers. (Sources: Texas A&M transcript and family genealogy)

On 7 Dec 1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.

The Early Years - Army Air Forces - Post Ploesti - Recent Events

Created: August 1, 2006

Last updated: April 11, 2017

2nd Lt. Lloyd Herbert "Pete" Hughes, Jr. (12 Jul 1921 - 1 Aug 1943)

The Early Years (12 Jul 1921 - 27 Jan 1942)

2nd Lt. Lloyd Herbert "Pete" Hughes, Jr.
(12 Jul 1921 - 1 Aug 1943)

The Early Years
(12 Jul 1921 - 27 Jan 1942)