Sergeant Buddy Hughie Memorial Overpass

The memorial is a prominent concrete and steel double overpass at the convergence of two major routes – highways U.S. 59/U.S. 271/N. Broadway St., and Oklahoma State Highway OK 112/Cavanal Scenic Expressway, north of Poteau, Oklahoma. The overpass is a 3-lane roadway northeast bound, and a 3-lane roadway southwest bound, on OK 112/Cavanal Scenic Expressway, spanning a 4-lane divided segment of U.S. 59/U.S. 271/N. Broadway St. The overpass also serves as the north entry point for the U.S. 59 Poteau Bypass to the south. The memorial was designated in 2007. Sergeant Buddy James “Doc” Hughie, of Poteau, Oklahoma was shot and killed on February 19, 2007 during combat operations against enemy forces in Afghanistan as part of the Global War on Terrorism - Operation Enduring Freedom effort. He was a member of the Oklahoma Army National Guard’s Company C, 1st Battalion, 180th Infantry Regiment. He entered military service in 2001, deployed to Afghanistan in 2002-2003, with an Engineer unit in the South Carolina Army National Guard, serving with the 218th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (MEB), a rear-area support brigade. He volunteered for a second deployment with the 180th Infantry in the summer of 2006. His unit’s mission was to serve as part of a multi-national force engaged in training Afghan Army trainees, and to provide local security. He and his unit were conducting a joint combat patrol operation in Kamdesh District in Nuristan Province, in eastern Afghanistan, when they came under enemy small-arms and rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) fire. Sergeant Hughie, the unit’s medic, was mortally wounded during the engagement, when he left his covered position to provide medical aid to wounded Afghan soldiers. His awards and decorations include the Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, Bronze Star Medal with Bronze letter “V” (for valor) and Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, and Overseas Service Ribbon. He was also awarded the blue Infantry Shoulder Cord. (Note: The 180th Infantry Regiment Distinguished Unit Insignia features a blue shield with 3 silver arrows in a pyramid shape. On top of the shield is a crest consisting of a twisted white and blue wreath at the base, topped by a silver Indian’s head with a war bonnet with blue feather tips. The crest is the symbol for the regiments and separate battalions of the Oklahoma Army National Guard. Below the shield is a scroll with the motto TANAP NANAIYA KIA ALHTAIYAHA (Ready in War or Peace) in blue. The color blue is the infantry color; the arrows represent the Indian heritage of Oklahoma; and the motto language is that of the Choctaw Indian Tribe, whose members formed and served with the Regiment.) (Note: The 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) Shoulder Sleeve Insignia (patch) is a red square, point up, featuring a gold Thunderbird symbol. The patch was formerly approved for the 45th Division in 1939, and the nickname “Thunderbird” Division was designated. The Thunderbird is a Native American symbol of the Southwestern Indians of the United States, signifying “sacred bearer of unlimited happiness.” The Spanish colors, red and gold, indicate the four States (Colorado, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Arizona), which were settled by the Spanish, and which provided State National Guard units assigned to the division. Each side of the square represents one of those States. The insignia was designed by a Carnegie, Oklahoma Native American, named Woody Big Bow. In mythology, the Thunderbird is viewed as a sacred spirit bird of great powers, strength, mobility and indomitable spirit. The insignia and nickname were later retained and redesignated for the 45th IBCT.) (Note: The 218th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (MEB) Shoulder Sleeve Insignia (patch) is a horizontally-divided blue and gray shield with a light blue border. The shield is arced at top and bottom and features 2 crossed white bayonets beneath a white crescent. Blue and white are infantry colors, which refer to the unit’s origin; the bayonets signify combat mission readiness and a spirit of aggressiveness and willingness to take the fight to the enemy; the crescent is taken from the flag of the State of South Carolina, and represent the assignment of the unit to the South Carolina Army National Guard; and the colors blue and gray refer to the history of the State and its militia forces. The insignia was originally approved for the 218th Infantry Brigade on June 3, 1974 and redesignated for the 218th MEB on September 1, 2008.)