Honoring WWII Veteran Air Force Paratrooper Walter Hughes: A True American Hero

by
posted on December 23, 2016
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **

There are few who can truly be called “hero.” Walter Hughes was one of them. A veteran World War II Air Force paratrooper, Hughes was just 18 years old when he jumped behind enemy lines in Holland to defend our freedoms.

Five years ago, NRA News had the distinct honor of documenting Hughes’ bravery in “A Veteran’s Memories.” The “Patriot Profiles” episode featured the warrior, still sharp, as he spoke of the vivid memories of his service abroad during WWII.

On Monday, Hughes was laid to rest. He was a true hero that the NRA is humbled to once again honor and thank for his service. We hope you do the same by watching the trailer to his “Patriot Profile” above and the full episode on NRATV. We also encourage you to spread Hughes’ legacy by sharing his feature using #ThankYouHughes and by thanking a veteran this Christmas.

Thank you, Walter Hughes.

Latest

The Armed Citizen
The Armed Citizen

The Armed Citizen® January 21, 2026

Around 7 a.m. on Nov. 7, 2025, near Los Angeles, a 79-year-old Vietnam War veteran heard his duplex tenant screaming. He found a naked 30-year-old man had forced his way into the woman’s home.

The DOJ Civil Rights Division is Hiring Second Amendment Attorneys

After Harmeet Dhillon, assistant attorney general for the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Civil Rights Division, was a guest on Gun Talk Media with Tom Gresham, NRA-ILA reported that Dhillon is “embracing a new style of litigation on behalf of the Second Amendment.”

Cynical Strategies To Subvert The Protection Of Lawful Commerce In Arms Act

Since President George W. Bush signed the bipartisan Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) into law on Oct. 26, 2005, those bent on civilian disarmament have sought to bypass the legislation’s clear commands. In fact, 20 years later, gunmakers were fending off a frivolous nuisance suit from the city of Gary, Ind., filed in 1999, despite the PLCAA and state-analogue legislation.

The New York Times Tries to Explain the Drop in Crime

The New York Times is attempting to explain away the Trump administration's success at lowering crime rates with these explanations.

Winner-Take-All Elections Mark A New Chapter In The Second Amendment

Will a meaningful Second Amendment survive in Virginia? That this is even an open question shows how dramatically one election can reshape a state when it comes to the right to keep and bear arms.

Part 1: How the Mainstream Media Lost Touch With America—The Takeover by the Elites

Why is so much of the mainstream, legacy or corporate media opposed to our right to keep and bear arms? This three-part series attempts to answer these critical questions—understanding, after all, leads to solutions.



Get the best of America's 1st Freedom delivered to your inbox.