America's Fallen Hero's

SPC. David W. Hughes

Spc. David W. Hughes, assigned to C Co. 3rd Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, was killed during Regimental training at Ft. Sherman, Panama on September 3, 1988. He was 24 years old at the time of his death.

His death is classified as “killed in training”. During the last week of jungle training at Ft. Sherman, Spc. Hughes was in the combat patrol phase of training at the Jungle Operation Training center. On the morning of September 3, 1988, approximately 0150 Hughes was killed in a freak accident when a tree uprooted and fell across his platoon’s perimeter while they were asleep. Hughes was killed instantly when the tree fell across his chest. Two other Rangers were injured as well.

David Warner Hughes was born on January 24, 1964 at Kennestone Hospital in Marietta, Georgia. Hughes grew up in the greater Atlanta area and graduated from Parkview High School in 1982. He joined the Army in 1986 and wanted nothing more than to become an Airborne Ranger. He attended Basic Training, Airborne School, the Ranger Indoctrination Program, and Ranger School at Ft. Benning, GA. He was assigned to the 3rd Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Ft. Benning, GA.

Hughes was an avid Star Wars fan, loved science fantasy, and Lord did he love his Ford Mustangs! He exceled physically in everything he did. He always had a smile on his face, or as his fellow platoon Ranger, Terry Litts called it, “his shit eating grin”. He was so proud to be a Ranger.

Hughes is survived by his mother Jean Hughes, his father James Hughes, his brother Mark Hughes, and his sister Zoe Hughes.

He is buried at Sanders Cemetery in Cedartown, Georgia.