The Mighty Ninth

Strive To Reach The Summit

Lt Jim McHugh and BC Capt Richardson
Lt McHugh, XO, and BC Richardson inside the FDC CONEX.  I recall that McHugh's dad was a full bird colonel.  He started college at VMI and dropped out first year and went through OCS.  He was a 20 year-old 1st LT as XO. Really a great kid (I was 23).   Between the two of us we could do a high burst registration, which helped keep me around.  He knew his stuff, but we loved to fool around with him. He wanted to fire the battery in strict accordance with the FM6-40, but FDC was more conscious of potential "check-fire" situations. We got the section chiefs on the guns to go along with us, so rather than argue with him we just said "yes sir".  So the next thing is McHugh: "Battery" then the Chiefs:"Platoons", McHugh: "fire" followed by a ragged  "bang . . . bang bang . . . bang . . bang (we only had 5 tubes at the time).  He came into FDC and we offered to show him how to do it.  Chief: "Battery ready", Me: "Battery fire" BANG in perfect unison.    
(Note. Lt McKugh died on December 8, 2017 from cancer.)

Lt Jim McHugh and BC Capt Richardson

Lt McHugh, XO, and BC Richardson inside the FDC CONEX. I recall that McHugh's dad was a full bird colonel. He started college at VMI and dropped out first year and went through OCS. He was a 20 year-old 1st LT as XO. Really a great kid (I was 23). Between the two of us we could do a high burst registration, which helped keep me around. He knew his stuff, but we loved to fool around with him. He wanted to fire the battery in strict accordance with the FM6-40, but FDC was more conscious of potential "check-fire" situations. We got the section chiefs on the guns to go along with us, so rather than argue with him we just said "yes sir". So the next thing is McHugh: "Battery" then the Chiefs:"Platoons", McHugh: "fire" followed by a ragged "bang . . . bang bang . . . bang . . bang (we only had 5 tubes at the time). He came into FDC and we offered to show him how to do it. Chief: "Battery ready", Me: "Battery fire" BANG in perfect unison.
(Note. Lt McKugh died on December 8, 2017 from cancer.)

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