In Loving Memory: Hugh Abernathey

Hugh Abernathey died on March 1, 2008 at the home of Son, Mike Abernathey. Hugh Abernathey was 98 years old. He was my grandpa.

Lt. Col. Abernathey fought in WWII as a captain. He commanded several battaries of AA guns. He landed in North Africa, then Italy (including the hell that was Anzio), then went into France from the south. He moved with Patton’s 3rd Army into Germany and came home to his family. At Anzio, it got so precarious that he issued all his men small arms, leveled the AA guns to toward the enemy and said, “We have to hold here, boys, because we are it.” The Allies fought back the Germans and finally broke out, but it was scetchy for a while.

He worked and lived in Victoria, TX. He was born in Smith County, Kansas. He moved back to Gaylord, Kansas after my grandmother died. He married his high school sweetheart (they were both in their 80s). She died, and he moved back to Texas to live with one of his sons.

I am not doing near enough justice to this man. He was a great man. He was a quiet sort, who abhored the limelight. He led his church, he led his Army unit, he led his workers. He is one of those men who is just solid. I bet he was a good guy when he was younger. He was no book worm - we were opposite on that one (I love to read, he did not). While he wrestled in college, he was not as avid a sportsman as I. He did like a couple of things: pecan trees and gigging flounder. He was old school farm boy.

I miss you, Grandpa.

By the way, he was in the stands in the Cotton Bowl when Dickie Maegle of Rice got tackled by Tommy What-ever-his-name is from Alabama off the sidelines.

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