John Cecil Hughes born July 30, 1922 in Herrin Illinois to Fox C. & Maude Betty (Bradford) Hughes. He married Ann L. Abernathy on November 13, 1943 in Herrin, IL. He died at 5 AM, Sunday, January 20, 2002 at Cherry Creek Nursing Center in Aurora, CO.

Colonel Hughes, better known as “Corn Cob 6”, entered the service in the infantry of the US Army on October 19, 1942. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on October 23, 1943. Col. Hughes received Five purple hearts, two Distinguished Service Crosses and many decorations for heroic actions, and meritorious service against an armed enemy of the United States during military actions of WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. These many acts of valor involved personal hazard and complete disregard of personal safety. One incident, which earned him the Distinguished Service Cross, occurred when Capt. Hughes was commanding Co. K, 35th Inf. Regiment against the enemy near Ung-Pong, Korea on Nov. 27, 1950. Capt. Hughes led a small force up a slope through mortar, grenade, and small arms fire. Although wounded, he refused medical aid, gained the crest of the ridge, and recaptured a portion of lost ground. Subsequently, when enemy machine gun fire raked his unit, he led a daring charge on the emplacement, which annihilated the hostile crew with grenade and rifle fire and routed the remaining enemy from the ridge. Capt. Hughes remained on the ridge and exposed himself to heavy fire to direct the defense until daylight when the enemy attack was defiantly repulsed. “Corn Cob 6” was a fully qualified infantryman, parachutist, ski trooper, Army aviator, and tactics instructor. He retired after 33 years of service as a Full Bird Colonel with 79 awards making him one of the most decorated Combat Soldiers in the history of the United States. He was put in for the medal of Honor, but it was downgraded to a Distinguished Service Cross, which he then went back and received a second DSC. He also received the Silver Star, Bronze Star, 5 Legions of Merit, Air Medal, and 5 Purple Hearts from combat in the Korean conflict. He received his Silver Star from an action in Vietnam in 1970.

While flying helicopters in the Vietnam War his call sign was “Corn Cob 6” which was also painted on his helicopter doors, comprising 2 crossed rifles which stand for Infantry and a # 6 which stood for O6, denoting Full Bird Colonel. Col. Hughes was known as a GI’s GI because he started as an enlisted man then went through Officers Candidate School, (OCS) and received his Regular Army Commission. It was because of his time as an enlisted man that when he became an officer, he had the utmost respect for his soldiers and the NCO’s who got the job done and bore most of the responsibility and the brunt of battles that were fought.

Colonel Hughes was exposed and intrigued by Colorado mountains at an early age and visited several times before exploring the area near Red Feather Lakes. He and his wife Ann visited Red Feather Lakes in 1954 and decided to purchase a small cabin in the village. They vacationed every year at this cabin as a great treat to their three sons, staying for extended times year after year enjoying the fine fishing and hiking the area is known for. Finally at retirement from the Army, they were able to move and live in Red Feather Lakes full time. John supported every local service organization and was an executive on the boards of the Mountain Lions Club, Red Feather Lakes Property Owners Association and Red Feather Historical Society. In true character for John, he was a leader and wouldn’t ask anybody to do anything he wouldn’t himself. He was a great volunteer in the community and a man to look up to. He had a huge impact to the Red Feather Lakes community activities. John’s greatest joys were taking his three grandsons’ on the private lakes either canoeing or catching abundant fish or teaching them how to shoot with an emphasis on safety.

Lon Hughes, the middle son of John Hughes, worked for 2 1/2 years to raise the money for the Red Feather Lakes Veterans Memorial which stands in the Red Feather Community Park honoring those veterans that have a connection to the village. It is a wonderful monument showing my Fathers respect for those Veterans who served our country. Currently there are 281 names displayed with room for more. Every year, now going on 17 years, we have a Flag raising ceremony and a Reading of The Names on the 4th of July.