Hubert Charles Drugan Jr. 1 2 3 4
- Born: 16 February 1919, Trempealeau, WI 1 2 3 4
- Marriage (1): Helen Manchuk on 12 September 1953
- Died: 9 April 2014, La Crosse, WI at age 95 4
- Buried: 14 April 2014, Trempealeau Cemetery, Trempealeau, WI 4
 Another name for Hubert was "Hubie" Drugan.4
General Notes:
Re: Christmas In Prison
To: ALL
From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci
(POW-MIA InterNetwork)
La Crosse Tribune
Date: December 23, 2002
"Veterans recall spending Christmas overseas in wartime"
By STEVE CAHALAN / Tribune business editor
Hubert Drugan, 83, of Trempealeau County, Wisconsin., was in the Army from March 1941 to July 1945, and spent three Christmases overseas - in North Africa, England and in the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium.
Most of the time, Drugan drove a reconnaissance jeep. "We'd mostly be ahead of the column," he said. "A lot of the times we'd be out checking for blown bridges, sometimes even behind enemy lines."
On Christmas Day 1942, in French Morocco, "We'd already kicked the Germans out of our area," Drugan recalled. Members of his unit spent the holiday resting and relaxing, and had a special holiday dinner with turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy.
On Christmas Day 1943, Drugan and his unit were at a base in England, training for the D-Day invasion of France. He remembers having another holiday dinner with turkey, and attending a church service on the base.
His most memorable - and miserable - Christmas was in 1944, during the Battle of the Bulge. On Dec. 21, Drugan's unit had made a 100-mile march "in half rain, half snow" across Germany to join the battle.
On Christmas Day that year, Drugan said, "We were up at the front. There was snow on the ground and it was cold." His unit was engaged in battle until early afternoon, when German soldiers retreated. "We didn't get our dinner until 3:30 or 4 PM", Drugan said. "They brought up our dinner - turkey, mashed potatoes, dressing and gravy. It was hot, but it cooled off fast."
While he ate his Christmas dinner, Drugan watched German soldiers retreating on a nearby ridge.
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Birth Notes:
Trempealeau County Birth Records, Vol. 16, page 379
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Noted events in his life were:
• He appeared on the 1920 US Census in Trempealeau, WI on 8 January 1920. 1
1920 US Census
Sheet 5A, District 219, Household 131, Roll 2018
Trempealeau, Trempealeau, Wisconsin
129 Main Street; Owns Home
Hubert Drugan..Son..5m..WI
(Living with parents.)
.
• He appeared on the 1930 US Census in Trempealeau, WI on 3 May 1930. 2
1930 US Census
Sheet 5A, District 24, Household 131, Roll 2614
Trempealeau, Trempealeau, Wisconsin
Home owned, $1500
Hubert Drugan..Son..11..WI
(Living with parents.)
.
• He appeared on the 1940 US Census in Trempealeau, WI on 26 April 1940. 3
1940 US Census
Sheet 7B, District 61-24, Family 163, Roll 4529
Trempealeau, Trempealeau, Wisconsin
home owned, value $800
Residence in 1935: Same House
Hubert Drugan..Son..21..WI..9th grade..Bridge man, railroad
(Living with parents.)
.
• Military: US Army, Between 1941 and 1945. Hubert Drugan of Fort Benning, Ga., is spending a furlough with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Hubert Drugan.
(Source: Winona Republican-Herald, June 1, 1942, page 10).
• He resided at 11790 Main Street in 2003 in Trempealeau, WI.
• His obituary was published in April 2014. Hubert C. Drugan, passed away Wednesday, April 9, 2014, at Gundersen Medical Center. He fought a long courageous battle against cancer.
Hubie was born Feb. 16, 1919, to Olive (Perkins) and Hubert Drugan. He spent his entire life in Trempealeau, other than the four years, four months he served in the 2nd Armored Div., Hell On Wheels under Gen. Geo. Patton. He also worked for the railroad both before and after his military service. He retired from the Corp. of Engineers at Lock & Dam 5A in 1981.
Hubie married Helen (Manchuk) on Sept. 12, 1953, and celebrated 60 years of marriage last fall. He loved spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, trout fishing on the Brule River, snowmobiling and watching the Brewers and Packers.
Hubie is survived by his wife, Helen; and their daughter, Carla (Gary) Larson; grandchildren, Jason Robinson (Edna Lewis), Kevin Robinson (Kendra Rose), Emily (Chad) Anderson; step-grandchildren, Shaun (Jamey) Ulven and Shannon Larson; great-grandchildren, Jayden, Dylan, Alexys and Dakotah Robinson, Kendalyn Anderson; step great-grandchildren, Riana and Mason Ulven; as well as Edna's children, Juleigha and Brett. He is also survived by his sisters, Genevieve Rogness, Evelyn Jessessky, Dorothy (Brookes) Smith and Loretta (Duane) Johnson; brother-in-law, Raymond Manchuk; and sister-in-law, Lavon Manchuk; as well as many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; three infant children, Larry, Donna and Kay; two sisters, Catherine and Elizabeth; and two brothers, Leo and James.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, April 14, at St. Bartholomew's Catholic Church in Trempealeau. Burial with military rites at Trempealeau Public Cemetery. Friends may call from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, April 13, at the church and one hour prior to the service Monday. Zwickey Funeral Homes Galesville Chapel assisted the family.
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• He was buried on 14 April 2014 in the Trempealeau Cemetery in Trempealeau, WI.
Find A Grave Memorial #127861582
. 4
Hubert married Helen Manchuk, daughter of Alexander Manchuk and Mina Hazel Hendrickson, on 12 September 1953. (Helen Manchuk was born about 1921.)
Marriage Notes:
The following marriage licenses issued in Trempealeau county: Hubert Charles Drugan and Helen Marilyn Manchuk, Trempealeau, to be married Sept. 12.
(Source: The Daily Telegram, Eau Claire, WI, 10 Sep 1953.)
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