Obituary of Oscar Hulon Briggs (1919-2007)

Obituary of O. Hulon Briggs (1919-2007)

O. Hulon Briggs
Jan 24, 2007 - 08:22:47 am CST

Graham, NC - Mr. O. Hulon Briggs, 88, of 512 Oakwood Lane, died Thursday, January 18, 2007 at the Hospice and Palliative Care Center of Alamance-Caswell after five years of failing health. A native of Caswell County, he is survived by his wife of 59 years, Gretchen W. Briggs of the home; two daughters, Lynn Briggs of Graham and Carol Briggs and her husband David Scott-Cowan of Sussex, England; one son, Oscar Briggs and his wife Karen of Hurt, Virginia; two grandchildren, Caitlin Briggs and Alex Cowan. One of six children, he leaves a sister, Ruth Kimbro of Martinsville, Virginia; along with nine nieces and nephews.

Hulon was a World War II veteran and served in the European Theater as part of "The Mighty 8" Air Corps, completing thirty combat missions as a top-turret gunner on B-24s. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with six Oak Leaf Clusters.

He was a 1950 graduate of Tri-State University where he received a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He retired from Western Electric after 21 years of service. Upon retirement he worked with the Western Electric Pioneers and served as a Hospice Volunteer. He was an active member of the First United Methodist Church of Graham, a Past-Patron of the Battle of Alamance Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star, and a Past-Master of the Thomas M. Holt Lodge #492.

A memorial service will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, January 22, 2007 at the First United Methodist Church of Graham by Dr. Ken Hall. The family will receive friends following the memorial service in the Church Fellowship Hall and at other times at the family home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Hospice and Palliative Care Center of Alamance-Caswell, 914 Chapel Hill Road, Burlington, N.C. 27215 or the First United Methodist Church of Graham, 303 N. Main Street, Graham, N.C. 27253. Rich & Thompson Funeral and Cremation Service, Graham is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be sent to the family at info@richandthompson.com.

Source: The Caswell Messenger, 24 January 2007.

World War II Service Record
Name: Oscar Hulon Briggs
Date of Entrance in Service: May 5, 1942
Branch of Service: Army Air Corps, 453rd Bomb Group
Training Stations: Kessler Field, Texas; Buckley Field, Colorado; Charleston Army Air Base, South Carolina; Fort Myers, Virginia; Salt Lake City, Utah; Boise, Idaho; March Field, California; Laredo, Texas; Tyndall Field, Florida.
Parents' Name: Mr. & Mrs. Oscar T. Briggs
Date of Embarkation: December 22, 1942
Theater of Operations: European, Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland
Medals Earned: European-African-Middle Eastern with four Bronze Stars, Air Medal, six Oak Leaf Clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross
Date Returned to United States: November 6, 1944
Discharged: Fort Bragg, North Carolina, September 10, 1945
Rank: Staff Sergeant
Time Served: Two years, six months

Source: Service Record Book of Men and Women of Yanceyville, N.C., and Community, Sponsored by the V.F.W. Post No. 7316 (1948).
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The 453rd Bombardment Group in which Sergeant Oscar Hulon Briggs served has a website at The 453rd Bomb Group. That site has a guest book in which the following is found:


Record #: "645"
"Just visiting again after some time. My dad, Jack Klinedinst, flew in the 453rd 735th BS. He died 3 years ago. I was just looking at his books, and found his missions, etc. He flew in "Rumplestilskin" with Pilot Tarbell, Co pilot Bednarchik, Navigator Joyce,and others William Joyce,Bob Haron, Conrad, Hulon Briggs, Broadwater,A. Dick, Arthur Lavin. Just wanted yto say hello and keep up the great work of keeping our history alive. I'm proud of him and all of you. Support our troops."
Submitted by: "John Klinedinst"
"York", "PA" "USA"
E-Mail Me (klinedinst@prodigy.net)
"03/20/05"

From the above we learn that Oscar Hulon Briggs flew in a B-24 Liberator Bomber named "Rumplestilskin."