WWII Pilots military memorabilia returned to Barry County family
May 24, 2023
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First Lieutenant Hugh S. Brixey, Jr.
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Amongst the items returned to Brixey's family was a memoriam declaration signed by then- President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
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Adriana Keeton
Memorial Day, originally known as Decoration Day, is a federal holiday in the United States to honor and mourn personnel who died while serving in the United States armed forces. It is observed on the last Monday of May and is considered the unofficial beginning of summer.
This Memorial Day, I want to share the story of First Lt. Hugh S. Brixey, Jr., who, according to his obituary in a November 1944 issue of the Cassville Democrat and information on Ancestry.com, was the son of Hugh S. Brixey, Sr., who for many years was the superintendent of Roaring River State Park and past Sheriff of Barry County, and Mrs. Norma Brixey, of Cassville. He was the grandson of former Sheriff G.M. Brixey of Washburn Prairie. He graduated from Cassville High School in 1936 and attended Missouri and Arkansas universities before entering the Army Air Forces. He was killed at age 25 on October 15, 1944, in a crash of his B-24 Bomber plane in World War II's China, Burma, and India Theater. He was laid to rest at Maplewood Cemetery, in Exeter, on Wednesday, March 10, 1948, with full military honors.
I only know of First Lt. Brixey because American Legion First Vice Commander of Post 118, Tim Lowe, walked into the Advertiser's office last week with a genuinely inspirational story about Lt. Brixey's family history in the area and the return of his military memorabilia and treasured belongings to his living family in Barry County.
I sat down with Tim and he explained how in January of this year, his Post in Cassville was contacted by Post Commander and Chaplain of Post 31 Kenneth Gilbert, in Salinas, California, about First Lieutenant Hugh S. Brixey, Jr. and belongings found in a trailer owned by First Lt. Brixey's widow, Ms. Lorene R. Brixey, upon her death and cleaning of property in Salinas.
It was a coincidence that Post Commander Gilbert found the belongings the new property owners sought to discard as trash. Gilbert made it a mission to return the memories of his fallen Brother in Arms to living family through a joint effort of the Legions.
Among the items returned were First Lt. Buxley's Air and Distinguished Flying Cross medals, blood chits, photographs, personal letters, and a signed memoriam declaration by then-President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
The China, Burma, and India Theatre brought Scots, Irish, English, Welsh, Australians, New Zealanders, Indians, Gurkhas, Burmese, Africans, and Americans together, planning side by side for the common objective of total victory against insurmountable obstacles. Success was made possible only by the ability of men of all nations to work together.
Unless we, the world's free men, learn the lesson that war teaches, we will never be able to maintain the peace, freedom, and security for which all soldiers have fought.
First Lieutenant Buxley was part of that front, flying supplies from India to China over "The Hump" of the Himalayas at 14,000-20,000 feet elevations to avoid Japanese pilots through some of the harshest conditions in the world and gave his life for his mission and our freedom.
This Memorial Day, be grateful for life's comforts, spend a few moments, and honor those who paid the ultimate price.
Memorial Day, originally known as Decoration Day, is a federal holiday in the United States to honor and mourn personnel who died while serving in the United States armed forces. It is observed on the last Monday of May and is considered the unofficial beginning of summer.
This Memorial Day, I want to share the story of First Lt. Hugh S. Brixey, Jr., who, according to his obituary in a November 1944 issue of the Cassville Democrat and information on Ancestry.com, was the son of Hugh S. Brixey, Sr., who for many years was the superintendent of Roaring River State Park and past Sheriff of Barry County, and Mrs. Norma Brixey, of Cassville. He was the grandson of former Sheriff G.M. Brixey of Washburn Prairie. He graduated from Cassville High School in 1936 and attended Missouri and Arkansas universities before entering the Army Air Forces. He was killed at age 25 on October 15, 1944, in a crash of his B-24 Bomber plane in World War II's China, Burma, and India Theater. He was laid to rest at Maplewood Cemetery, in Exeter, on Wednesday, March 10, 1948, with full military honors.
I only know of First Lt. Brixey because American Legion First Vice Commander of Post 118, Tim Lowe, walked into the Advertiser's office last week with a genuinely inspirational story about Lt. Brixey's family history in the area and the return of his military memorabilia and treasured belongings to his living family in Barry County.
I sat down with Tim and he explained how in January of this year, his Post in Cassville was contacted by Post Commander and Chaplain of Post 31 Kenneth Gilbert, in Salinas, California, about First Lieutenant Hugh S. Brixey, Jr. and belongings found in a trailer owned by First Lt. Brixey's widow, Ms. Lorene R. Brixey, upon her death and cleaning of property in Salinas.
It was a coincidence that Post Commander Gilbert found the belongings the new property owners sought to discard as trash. Gilbert made it a mission to return the memories of his fallen Brother in Arms to living family through a joint effort of the Legions.
Among the items returned were First Lt. Buxley's Air and Distinguished Flying Cross medals, blood chits, photographs, personal letters, and a signed memoriam declaration by then-President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
The China, Burma, and India Theatre brought Scots, Irish, English, Welsh, Australians, New Zealanders, Indians, Gurkhas, Burmese, Africans, and Americans together, planning side by side for the common objective of total victory against insurmountable obstacles. Success was made possible only by the ability of men of all nations to work together.
Unless we, the world's free men, learn the lesson that war teaches, we will never be able to maintain the peace, freedom, and security for which all soldiers have fought.
First Lieutenant Buxley was part of that front, flying supplies from India to China over "The Hump" of the Himalayas at 14,000-20,000 feet elevations to avoid Japanese pilots through some of the harshest conditions in the world and gave his life for his mission and our freedom.
This Memorial Day, be grateful for life's comforts, spend a few moments, and honor those who paid the ultimate price.
Shown above is a small portion of WWII military memorabilia returned to First Lt. Brixey's family including four blood chits. Blood chits were carried by military personnel and commonly sown into the interior of aviator jackets.
The Chinese blood chits above read "This foreigner has come to China to help in the war effort. Soldiers and civilians, one and all, should rescue and protect him."
The Chinese blood chits above read "This foreigner has come to China to help in the war effort. Soldiers and civilians, one and all, should rescue and protect him."
