Otto Hughes

Private Otto Hughes was a member of the 333rd Field Artillery Battalion(Heavy), an all black unit, when the Germans launched their winter attack that became known as the Battle of the Bulge.  The 333 Field Artillery were out-numbered and over-run by the heavily armored Germans.  The 333 FA Battalion lost many casualties.  

Private Otto Hughes date of death is December 17th.  He and 10 other members of his unit are presently buried at Luxemberg American Cemetery in Belgium.  There were many other casualties and some of the deceased were brought back to be buried in the US.

There was an attrocity associted with this unit.  Eleven of the black soldiers were captured by the Germans.  But instead of taking them to prisoner of war camp, the Nazi SS soldiers took them outside of the town of Wereth, Belguim and tortured and mutilated them before killing them.  This incident became known as the "Wereth 11".  A docu-drama movie has been made about this event.  (Pvt Hughes was not one of those murdered but was probably killed in action.)

 List of Soldiers from 333 Field Artillery Battalion buried overseas at two different American cemeteries in Belgium.

   NAME              RANK    SER NO.       STATE    DATE of DEATH

1 ADAMS CURTIS  PVT    34511454        SC  17-Dec-44

2 DAVIS GEORGE  PFC    34553436       AL  17-Dec-44

3 FORTE THOMAS J  SSGT    34046992    MS  17-Dec-44

4 HINES CASEY  PVT    32641807            NY  17-Dec-44

5 HUGHES OTTO  PVT  34620119             MS  17-Dec-44

6 MOSS NATHANIEL  PVT  38040062       TX  17-Dec-44

7 MOTEN GEORGE W  PFC  38304695      TX  17-Dec-44

8 PORTER JOHN L  PVT      14049647         NC  17-Dec-44

9 STEWART JAMES A  TEC4    35744547      WV  17-Dec-44

10 TURNER DUE W  PFC    38383369         AR  17-Dec-44

11 YOUNG ROBERT  PVT     34511761     SC  17-Dec-44