Read this thread https://t.co/mXdGR2bB23
— Kyle Foley (@KFoleyFL) February 17, 2017
This whole thread https://t.co/MA0BszZpnC
— John Noonan (@noonanjo) February 17, 2017
CNN’s Jake Tapper has been a proud, tireless supporter of our military and veterans. And this afternoon, he celebrated the life of one soldier, Sgt. Buddy Hughie, with a moving tribute:
Sunday will mark a decade since the death of someone most of you have never heard of, SGT Buddy Hughie, age 25. pic.twitter.com/s25NomwS1l
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) February 17, 2017
2/ Buddy had helped saved lives in NOLA post-Katrina as an Oklahoma National Guardsman. In Afghanistan he served in Nuristan Province
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) February 17, 2017
3/ On Feb 19, 2007, Buddy was part of a team of US and Afghan troops at COP Keating searching for a kidnapped local teenager.
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) February 17, 2017
4/Buddy had recently described to his grandmother how well he worked with the Afghan troops. They were a great team, he told her.
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) February 17, 2017
5/ The boy was found, but Buddy and his team of ANA troops were caught in an enemy ambush from a ridge. The insurgents had a new marksman.
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) February 17, 2017
6/ The enemy marksman shot Adel, an Afghan National Army soldier. Buddy was a medic. He ran to Adel to administer First Aid. A shot rang out
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) February 17, 2017
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7/ LT Vic Johnson ran to Buddy. An RPG went off in front of him; shrapnel hit Johnson's helmet, but he kept moving to Buddy.
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) February 17, 2017
8/ By the time he reached Buddy, the young man was gone. Johnson couldn't find the wound, it was hidden under Buddy's body armor somewhere.
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) February 17, 2017
9/ Johnson then saw Adel, who'd been hit in the chest. Johnson tried to radio for a medic. No one responded. He ran back to the trucks.
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) February 17, 2017
10/ Johnson and SPC Gil Montanez ran back through the bullet storm to Buddy and Adel. Montanez found Buddy's wound.
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) February 17, 2017
11/ Montanez realized that when he'd reached for his medic bag to save Adel, Buddy had exposed himself. The bullet found a path to his heart
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) February 17, 2017
12/ "KIA," Johnson called into the radio, followed by Buddy's ID code: HOTEL for Hughie and the last 4 digits of his Social Security number
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) February 17, 2017
13/ This was Buddy's second tour in Afghanistan. He'd served there 2002-2003 as well. He had a new wife and a brand new baby boy, Cooper.
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) February 17, 2017
14/ US airpower chased off the insurgents and Johnson and his team retrieved Adel, who flashed him a thumbs up in the back of the pickup.
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) February 17, 2017
15/ But half an hour later, when Johnson's convoy arrived back at COP Keating, it was greeted by two body bags. Adel hadn't survived either.
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) February 17, 2017
16/ At 9:40 pm in South Carolina, two soldiers in their dress uniforms arrived at the house where Buddy's wife and baby lived with her folks
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) February 17, 2017
17/ Her dad wrote about that night two weeks afterward. You can read it here:https://t.co/uTWFlJJ9VF
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) February 17, 2017
18/ Here's a post he wrote on the 5th anniversary of Buddy's death.https://t.co/CClfCkOWGq
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) February 17, 2017
19/ Those who served with SGT Buddy "Doc" Hughie still miss him deeply; he was, they say, a truly great and giving man. pic.twitter.com/gj10v9ot6R
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) February 17, 2017
20/ @soonergrunt wrote about him in May 2007 — https://t.co/vZwYSd38va
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) February 17, 2017
21/ There was a Forward Operating Base named after Buddy, FOB Hughie, but it was handed over to the Afghan National Army in 2012.
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) February 17, 2017
22/ Cooper turned 10 in November. He made the honor roll and loves to read. pic.twitter.com/vZABYXm6Od
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) February 17, 2017
23/ So this Sunday, if you would, please have a thought for SGT Buddy Hughie, for Cooper, and for everyone who misses him.
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) February 17, 2017
R.I.P. pic.twitter.com/MDh9FdvRq0
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) February 17, 2017
May Sgt. Hughie rest in peace. And may God bless his family.
https://twitter.com/jtperks/status/832699843646672898
Thank you for caring and remembering. These stories remind me of the costs of war. Such great sacrifices have been made.
— Janelle Lewis (@JanelleLewis15) February 17, 2017
Thank you for sharing this story. Thank you to all the brave men & women for their service.
— Samantha VOTE TACTICALLY (@samantha7421) February 17, 2017
Amen.
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