Photo By Cpl. R. J. Driver | Patrick Hughes, Rolling Thunder member and Vietnam veteran, presents an historic photo...... read more read more
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BEAUFORT, S.C. -- Vietnam veteran, national photographer and Rolling Thunder motorcycle club member Patrick Hughes presented a photograph of the original "Devil Dogs" in France to the Provost Marshal’s Office aboard the Air Station, Sept. 13.
The photograph was presented to Maj. Pete Cato, Air Station’s provost marshal, in front of a small formation. The picture is hung in the lobby and portrays the Marines in France before going into battle at Belleau Wood.
For Cato, it is the perfect location because, “a majority of the time when Marines walk into PMO, they are having the worst day of their life. This picture of Marines right before going into battle reminds them that things could always be worst.”
In front of the formation, Hughes explained how he received the photo stating, “some friends of mine came across the photo and with me being a photographer, they gave it to me to see what I could do with it.”
What Hughes did was create a panoramic piece of history with authenticating signatures.
“There were signatures on the back, and I thought ‘how cool would it be to put these on the front?’ so I photographed the signatures and did it,” Hughes said with a smile.
The photograph landing in Beaufort was a bit of luck, but as the saying goes, “luck is when opportunity knocks, and you answer.”
Randy Walz, services manager for PMO, and Cato both explained that Hughes was in the area and a phone call from an old connection united them and brought the picture to the Air Station.
“I am privileged to be able to present this to the Marines of the Air Station,” Hughes said.
To wrap things up, each Marine thanked Hughes for his service in Vietnam and for his contribution to the Air Station’s collection of Marine Corps history.
When asked about the picture, Cato concluded with an impactful, yet simple, “it is amazing.”
| Date Taken: | 09.13.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 09.22.2011 14:11 |
| Story ID: | 77454 |
| Location: | BEAUFORT, SC, US |
| Web Views: | 30 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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