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Those Who Died That Others Might Be Free

 

Hugh Bedient Jr

 

Date and Place of Birth: October 13, 1916 Falconer, New York

Died: June 17, 1940 New York

Baseball Experience: Minor League
Position: Outfield
Rank: Lieutenant
Military Unit: USAAC

Area Served: United States

 

Hugh P Bedient was born in Falconer, New York on October 13, 1916. His father, also Hugh, was a former major league pitcher with the Boston Red Sox.

 

Bedient was an excellent baseball and basketball player at Falconer High School. After graduating in 1933, he attended St Lawrence University, and attracted much attention from baseball scouts when he transferred to the University of Alabama.

 

In 1938, Bedient signed with the Boston Red Sox organization and joined the Evansville Bees of the Three-I League. But, instead of following in his father’s footsteps, Bedient turned his back on baseball after a handful of games and pursued a career in military aviation.

 

Serving with the United States Army Air Corps, Bedient first attended elementary flying school at Randolph Field, Texas. He then earned a commission as a second lieutenant at Kelly Field, Texas.

 

On May 4, 1940, Bedient married Miss Jenny Lee Malone at Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Shortly afterwards he was assigned to Mitchel Field, New York.

 

On June 17, 1940, two twin-engined bombers collided a half a mile above a residential area of Queens, New York. Second Lieutenant Hugh Bedient was among the eleven servicemen killed that day. There were no survivors.

 

Hugh Bedient was 23 years old. He is buried in Jamestown, New York.

 

Added April 11, 2007. Updated November 6, 2008.

 

Copyright © 2008 Gary Bedingfield (Baseball in Wartime). All Rights Reserved.