NEWS FROM THE HUT by John Hamilton

It is an incredibly sad time at the Hut since last Thursday, January 21, 2021, when Bob Hough passed away at home in his own bed, surrounded by family members. Bob had just turned 100 years old this last September 23^rd.

Bob Hough was born on September 23, 1920 in Coalgate, Oklahoma but was raised in the hill country near Kerrville, TX. Bob was born out in the countryside but the closest town to where he was born is Coalgate, OK. Bob had eight siblings, five brothers and three sisters. The only surviving sibling is his 83-year-old brother, Jack, who lives in Owasso, OK. Bob has five children: two daughters and three sons.

Bob Hough has been an active member of The American Legion, Post 142, Hominy, Department of Oklahoma for many years. Bob has been a faithful attendee at the bi-monthly meetings and the weekly Monday morning Coffee Klatch, although it has been put on hold recently due to the COVID-19 virous. Bob loved to spin a yarn about the good old days in Hominy and his time in the United States Marine Corps.

Bob joined the United States Marine Corps in May of 1942 for the duration of the war plus six months. Bob spent much of his service time in Guadalcanal and Tarawa in the Pacific during WWII. Upon returning to the United States, Bob was stationed at Camp Pendleton putting on demonstrations to the new recruits of what went on in Guadalcanal and Tarawa. Prior to Bob’s discharge in September, he got orders to go to Japan as part of the occupation there. While waiting for his ship to come in that was to take them to Japan, Bob was hanging out in the barracks for about two weeks when someone passed the word throughout the barracks that the war had ended. It was all over for Bob. A couple of days later, on Thursday, an old boy stuck his head in the barracks and told Bob that the Captain wanted to see him. When Bob saw the Captain, he asked Bob if he wanted to be discharged there or in San Antonio, TX where he was inducted. Bob told him, “Wherever is easiest for you.” Bob was discharged on Monday.

When asked where he had the most fun during the war, Bob had to confess it was when he met his wife. Bob had been hitchhiking from Camp Pendleton near Seal Beach in California on his way to Long Beach to the Carnival there when a car stopped to pick him up. An older man was driving with a young girl in the passenger seat. The man told Bob to hop in the back seat and introduced the young girl as his niece, Louella, and they were headed to the hospital to pick up Louella’s sister who had just had a baby. On the drive prior to picking up Bob and during the trip, Louella’s uncle kept kidding her about picking up a Marine. After they retrieved Louella’s sister from the hospital, Louella decided to go along to the Carnival with Bob. That was the start of their 74-year romance. Six weeks later they were married on May 1st. When asked if it was love at first sight, Bob replied without hesitation, “As far as I was concerned it was!”

Until further notice, our regular Legion meeting will be the third Thursday of each month. Our next meeting will be on Thursday, February the 18th. at 7:00 PM. The Sons of the American Legion meetings have been suspended until further notice, depending on the future COVID-19 situation. All dinners have been cancelled until further notice. The Monday morning Koffee Klatch meetings have been postponed as well for the same reason. If you are a veteran, come by for our monthly meeting, and if you have a good story, it may end up in print. Also keep up with us at the Post 142 website “americanlegion142.org” and Hominy Legion on Facebook.