10
QUEENS WEEKLY, JANUARY 5, 2020
WW II vet honored with Whitestone street co-naming
BY JENNA BAGCAL
A street in Whitestone that
was the long time home of a
decorated World War II veteran,
will soon bear his name in
honor of his life and service.
The City Council approved
Councilman Paul Vallone’s
legislation to posthumously
co-name 156th Street between
14th Avenue and Cryders Lane,
“CPL. John McHugh Way” at
the Dec. 19 Stated Meeting.
During the war, Corporal
John McHugh Sr. served in the
U.S. Army’s First Infantry Division
and fought at the Battle
of Normandy and the Battle of
the Bulge.
“We as residents of Northeast
Queens were blessed
to have an American hero
like Corporal John McHugh
call our great neighborhood
home,” said Vallone. “Corporal
McHugh was a highly decorated
veteran who fought bravely
with the Allied powers at the
historic Battle of Normandy
and the Battle of the Bulge,
major turning points in World
War II. With this co-naming
in the spring, we will honor a
true man of courage.”
Born on March 6, 1924,
McHugh graduated from Morris
Park High School in the
Bronx in 1942 and enlisted in
the army with his friends following
Pearl Harbor.
After completing basic
training at Fort McClelland in
Alabama, the army transported
him on the Queen Elizabeth
to the UK.
During his lifetime, the
army and other entities gave
him the following awards and
recognitions:
• The Silver Star for
gallantry in action
• Bronze Star for
meritorious service
• European Theater of
Operations Ribbon, which
contains silver arrow head
for the Normandy invasion
• Four Bronze Stars
indicating the major battles
in which he fought
• Two Presidential Unit
Citations for Crucifix Hill
and Hurtgen Forest
• Combat Infantry Badge
and the Fort Eger given by
Belgium for action there
during the war
The State Senate Veterans
Hall of Fame inducted him in
2014 and he was an honoree at
the Little Neck-Douglaston Memorial
Day Parade in May 2019.
McHugh passed away earlier
this year on July 21 at 95
years old.
“CPL. John McHugh was
a true American hero who
fought in WWII,” said John
McHugh Jr. “The McHugh family
is deeply appreciative and
thankful for the co-naming of
the street where he lived in
Whitestone for over 25 years.”
Vallone is currently collaborating
with the Department
of Transportation and the
McHugh family to set a date for
the official co-naming ceremony,
which will take place some
time in the spring.
Reach reporter Jenna Bagcal
by e-mail at jbagcal@qns.com
or by phone at (718) 260-2583. Cpl. John McHugh Sr. Courtesy of Vallone’s office
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