Hugh "Butch" Henry Sarah

United States Army

Vietnam War

SP4

 

8/5/1945 – 9/23/1969  Killed in Action Tay Ninh, South Vietnam

​https://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/45601/HUGH-H-SARAH/

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Hugh Henry Sarah was serving his country during the Vietnam War when he gave his all in the line of duty. Hugh volunteered for the draft into the United States Army in 1968, right out of college. He entered the service via Regular Military. He signed up for 2 years. He began his tour on 1 July 1969. His military occupation or specialty was Light Weapons Infantry. He was attached to 1st Cav Division, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry, D Company. U.S. Army.  Sarah had the rank of Specialist Four.

 

During his service in the Vietnam War, Army Specialist Four Sarah experienced a traumatic event which ultimately resulted in loss of life on 23 September 1969. Recorded circumstances attributed to: Hostile Action  Died of Wounds, Other Causes, Ground Casualty. Incident location: South Vietnam, Tay Ninh province.

 

For his service and sacrifice, Hugh Sarah was awarded Two Purple Hearts, The Bronze Star, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Marksmanship Badge, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Army Presidential Unit Citation and the Vietnam Gallantry Cross. 
 

According to an article in The Community Crier on June 28, 1989, “…Hugh “Butch” Sarah was a true Hometown Hero.  He was an All-Star Athlete and Scholar at Plymouth High School.  While in high school, Sarah played football and joined the track team. He won a weight lifting meet in 10th grade.  Sarah was Captain of the PHS Football Team his senior year.  Sarah’s shot put record, set in his senior year at 56 feet, two inches, remained good …[when this article was written in 1989. That record stood for 53 years!  It was finally broken in 2016].

 

“In junior high, Sarah met …Vickie McCuaig, who was to become his wife.  According to Vickie, ‘Butch was like a renaissance man….He was a poet, an intellectual.  He loved operas and paintings. He was just very unusual.  He had incredible insights into life.’ “

 

Hugh Sarah and Vickie McCuaig married in 1966.  Hugh graduated from Eastern Michigan University in 1968.  He had already enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1967 in order to beat the draft. He reached Vietnam in 1969. He was seriously wounded during heavy artillery fire on Sept 12, 1969 and died in hospital 9 days later, on Sept 23, 1969.  Five days later, his wife Vickie gave birth to their son, Hugh Kent Sarah.

 

Hugh Sarah was born on 5 August 1945. He was the son of Hugh H. Sarah Sr. and Maebelle Sarah of Lotzford Road, Canton Twp. He was the youngest of three children.  At his death, Hugh Sarah was survived by his parents, his wife Vickie, his soon-to-be-born son Hugh and his sisters Elizabeth and Jennifer.

 

Hugh Henry Sarah Jr. is interred at Oakland Hills Memorial Gardens in Novi, Michigan.

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