Honoring the fallen: Who Was Lance Cpl. Jacob Hug? Part 2 of 2

Photo By Sgt. Danielle Rodrigues | Lance Cpl. Jacob A. Hug, from Phoenix, Arizona, deployed to Kathmandu, Nepal with Joint Task Force 505 shortly after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck the country April 25. JTF 505 was called upon by the Nepalese Government to provide humanitarian relief shortly after the earthquake. May 12 another 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck the country and JTF 505 continued to provide relief. That afternoon, while providing humanitarian aid, a UH-1Y Huey, with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 469, crashed eight miles north of Charikot, Nepal. Two Nepalese soldiers and six U.S. Marines were on board the helicopter. One of those Marines was Lance Cpl. Hug, a combat videographer assigned to Marine Corps Installations Pacific, Combat Camera.  

CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, JAPAN

05.22.2015

Story by Sgt. Matthew Manning 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, Japan – On April 25, a devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck central Nepal. April 29, the U.S. military deployed a 20-person Joint Humanitarian Assistance Survey Team. Since then, approximately 900 U.S. military and civilian personnel from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps contributed to the Nepal relief efforts under the auspices of Joint Task Force 505.

A 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck May 12 and as JTF 505 personnel continued to provide humanitarian aid, a UH-1Y Huey helicopter, with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 469, crashed eight miles north of Charikot, Nepal, that afternoon.

Onboard were two Nepali soldiers and six U.S. Marines. One of these Marines was Lance Cpl. Jacob A. Hug, a combat videographer assigned to Marine Corps Installations Pacific while serving with JTF 505.

As a combat videographer, Hug worked tirelessly to provide the world with high quality imagery of the ongoing disaster response.

His videos will last forever, and like his videos, so will the impression he made on his fellow Marines.

Below are the responses Marines gave when asked “Who was Lance Cpl. Jacob Hug to you?”

“Lance Cpl. Hug, you know I love my video guys; even when you do trip over your tripod (three times) during a live interview with a general officer, still manage to keep your cool, and continue on. Thanks for everything man. I’m glad to have met you and worked with you. Semper Fi Marine.” -Staff Sgt Joseph Digirolamo, combat correspondent.

“I deployed with Lance Cpl. Jacob Hug to Korea last year, and was blessed to be able to work with him frequently. Lance Cpl Hug was motivated and kind of quiet, until you got to know him, and then he was hilarious. He was a wonderful Marine. Hug was on the Nepal mission for exactly what he joined the Marine Corps to do - to help others in a remote region who are in great need. He selflessly risked and sacrificed his life so that others might be saved - what a testimony of service before self and what an honorable memory. May Jesus be the almighty comforter those who are mourning their loss, and we pray for His peace that passes all understanding. Semper Fidelis Hug, I'll see you guarding Heaven's gates one day.” -Capt. Caleb Eames, public affairs officer.

“Hug was committed to completing objectives given to him. From what I've seen, he was also an explorer. When I was out getting familiar with the town, I'd see him doing the same.” -Sgt. Anthony Kirby, combat correspondent.

“He was a quiet person always the last to speak. Seeing him smile with his friends was probably the only time you'd see him crack that stern face. He was a good person and though I didn't get to engage in many conversations. He left an impression just the same.” -Cpl. Chantelle Henderson, supply administration and operations specialist.

“While I did not know Hug, personally I got the chance to work with him professionally during Forager Fury in 2013. He was quiet and a bit of an odd duck, but I could see he was a professional behind the camera, a good person and a good Marine. It saddened me to see he was lost while serving his country. My prayers go out to his family and friends. He will never be forgotten.” -Staff Sgt. Emanuel Melton, combat correspondent.

“He was a great friend. Quiet most of the time but like the sun eventually he will open up like a flower. There were very few times I didn't see him with a book a foot away. He was reading a lot. One of the things we bonded over was the Night Angel Trilogy. He said in Korea he would be a director and would turn it into a mini-series and he would have me on set and let me be the director of photography. He was a great man. I remember if he had rendered a video he would go outside surf the internet on his phone. I'll miss you Hug.” -Lance Cpl. Tyler Dietrich, combat photographer.

“Being in the Marine Corps means we're all family, but also have an immediate family. Something I truly admired about Hug is whenever we used to tease him about his sister, the quite Hug would disappear and he would unleash the beast! We all laugh about how mad he’d get, but we'd stop cause we knew if we kept egging him, he’d flip the switch and beat our butts; rightfully so. Hug will be missed. I wish I could have worked with him but going through Defense Information School with him, I witnessed his true character and I will never forget him.” -Sgt. Antonio Rubio, combat correspondent.

“I didn't know Lance Cpl Hug, but I know he was a part of our family, and as an NCO that makes him one of my Marines. No matter how long he served or where he went or what he did, I hope his family knows that he had an impact on our community that will stay with us forever. God be with his family and fellow Marines, for he was a blessing to our Corps and Country and will remain as an inspiration to all those who came before him, and those young Marines that will continue follow in his footsteps.” -Sgt. Britni Garcia Green, drill instructor.

“Hug - We never really got the chance to talk much, but public affairs and combat camera on Foster inevitably become a team, despite the playful sibling rivalry. I also had the chance to work with you in Korea, and even though I'm sure you wish you could live it down, but I'm sorry, that tripwire video is going to be the highlight of Ssang Yong 2014 forever. Thanks for being a good sport about it, and thanks for all of your hard work. Rest in peace, brother.” -Cpl. Lena Wakayama, combat correspondent.

“Hug was many things but mainly he was a friend to a lot of the young marines in my shop. He had more talent in one finger than most have in their entire body. He is and will forever be missed.” -Lance Cpl. Chloe Nelson, combat photographer.

“Jake wasn’t just someone I worked with, he was my best friend, my brother, I told him he would always be family to me no matter where we were and that if he ever needed me I would always be there for him … It just feels like a bad dream that I haven’t woken up from yet … I feel like I’m still waiting for him to get home but in all honesty I’m just waiting to join him. He will always be my family and my best friend; The Dungeon Master and the annoying brother. I will celebrate you as you lived. I’ll see you soon.” -Lance Cpl. Austin Schlosser, combat photographer.

• Date Taken: 05.22.2015
• Date Posted: 05.22.2015 03:54
• Story ID: 164229
• Location: CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, JP
• Hometown: PHOENIX TOWNSHIP, AR, US