Hughes was born in Ipswich, Dakota Territory, was a West Point graduate, and rose to become major general in the U.S. Army.

During World War II he was one of George S. Patton's close friends and Eisenhower's "right-hand man" during the entire European campaign.

His secondment to the Ordnance Department ended on June 20, 1915, and he was assigned to the 4th Field Artillery at Fort Bliss, Texas.

[7][8] After the United States entry into World War I, Hughes was posted to the Office of the Chief of Ordnance in Washington, D.C., where he was involved in purchasing artillery.

[4] With the end of the war, Hughes reverted to his substantive rank of captain on June 30, 1920, but was promoted to major again the next day.

On May 20, 1939, he returned to duty in the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, where he was serving when the United States entered World War II.

[13] When the Allied forces suffered heavy casualties at the hands of the German general Erwin Rommel in the Battle of the Kasserine Pass, Hughes recommended Patton to Eisenhower for command in Africa.

During his tenure, the normal peacetime activities, including research, development, storage, maintenance, and training, continued at higher levels than had existed prior to World War II.

The seven manufacturing arsenals continued to play a major role in the development of the new designs in ordnance materiel and in the improvement of existing equipment.

[12][22] Here is his ribbon bar: Hughes died on September 5, 1957, at Walter Reed Army Medical Center after a long illness.

[24] His diaries sat for many years in the Library of Congress and were not studied due to Hughes' unique "spiky Gothic hand."

Molly McClellan was able to "crack" Hughes' code and transcribe the over 900 pages of his diaries, thus allowing researchers to read his account of activities during World War II, notably those of Eisenhower's inner circle.

In a letter dated March 8, 1943, Hughes himself wrote to his wife seeking to dissipate in advance any rumors that might reach her ears: "I have taken Mrs. Prismall to the mess several times and during the past few days ...