My father served on the Charles F. Hughes during WWII. His name is Andrew "Scotty" Meikle. He was a seaman 1st Class (S 1/C) deck hand. He served on a 20mm Gun on the starbard side just forward of the aft funnel. He tells me James Legg was the gunner for that system.

My father has told me several things about the ship. He says he remembers going into the shore at Anzio to bombard the beach. He also remembers being in Naples harbor when Mount Vesuvius erupted and sailing to the Isle of Capri for R&R. He has told me about the fight against the E-boats off southern France. He said the ship took a shell through the bridge during the fight but it did not explode and passed through the the ship. He also told me a sailor from the ship by the name of Lindon Russell Hoover from Chicago was hit and killed by a truck in Oran. The street this accident took place is attached below. According to his recollections, the Isle of Capri was a liberty port used several times by the ship. Below is a picture of my father on the Isle of Capri.

Terry Michaels

Photo of CFH taken by "Scotty" during the war.

"Scotty" Meikle on the Isle of Capri during liberty.

A street in Oran, Algiers. Taken while on liberty while serving on the Charles F. Hughes.