We Lost a Dear Friend

 

On January 18, 2021, we lost our dear friend and fellow musician, William F. "Toby" Hughes. Toby and Dick first met at George AFB, California, in 1967. They were both learning to fly the F-4 Phantom in preparation for their air combat tours of duty in Southeast Asia. They performed together for the first time as members of the Incountry Group. First came the Incountry album, followed by Austin City Limits with Kris Kristofferson hosting.

Toby was an excellent singer, songwriter and musician. In addition to his "Fast and Low" CD, Toby worked with Dick on several albums preserving the songs and stories of the Vietnam War. 

In May of 2018, Toby joined Dick, Irv LeVine and Chip Dockery at Maxwell AFB to present an evening of songs as the culmination of a paper on the military/warrior music history. It was at this concert that "The Light In The Window" was first introduced which later became the title song on Dick's #32 CD. "The Light In The Window" is about the wives and families who waited at home while their husbands and fathers were away in the military. As part of the dedication on that CD Dick wrote: "I've known some pretty good fighter pilot lyricists through the years, Bobby Middleton, Thud Jock, Irv LeVine, also a Thud Jock and Chip Dockery who has flown the Phantom and a bunch of other stuff. But the warrior song-writing talent of Toby Hughes are unmatched by any of us. If there is a heavy thought you want to leave to posterity and you don't know how to say it, check with Toby."

On February 9, 2021 Toby was laid to rest with full military honors at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio, TX.

Toby, we will miss you now that you have "Flown West".

Luke AFB, 22 Jan 2016

Dick was invited by the 309th FS to perform at the Haboob Havoc on 22 Jan. Unfortunately, a student pilot from the 21st FS crashed near Bagdad, AZ on Thursday, 21 Jan. The powers that be decided Haboob Havoc would have to wait and a memorial for the Taiwanese pilot would be more appropriate. Here are some pictures from the memorial.

The shot glasses are filled with Kao Liang for the toast to "Gold" 

Dick prepares to sing Nickel on the Grass

The Piano - Ponch explained the WW II story
behind burning a piano when a pilot doesn't return.

Then they did.