Posted by Mildred Aday on December 26, 2002:

Captain Billy Dean Hubbard, Jr. Billy Dean Hubbard, Jr. was born on November 14, 1956 in Tishomingo County, Mississippi. He was the oldest child of Shirley Honeycutt and Billy Dean Hubbard, Sr. He had two brothers, Ronnie and Gary, and one sister Sheila. His grandparent were Fannie and George Hubbard, and Willie Mae and Kendrick Honeycutt. Early on the family started calling him "Deanie". The name stuck and he is always referred to as "Deanie" by his relatives. Once he started to school he was called "Billy" by his teachers and friends. Whatever he was called, all who knew him realized he was a special young man. Billy attended school at Burnsville where he was active in basketball, school and civic functions. He excelled in whatever endeavor he undertook. He was named an all-conference player in basketball. Billy graduated from Burnsville High School in May 1974. After graduation he enlisted in the United States Army. He trained first in communications, then in paratrooping. He was a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division of America's Guard of Honor. He was twice named "Soldier of the Month" for his division, and was named "Soldier of the Year" for his battalion in 1975. At age nineteen, while a paratrooper, he became a sergeant; the youngest non-commissioned officer in his division. In June 1976 Billy was accepted at the United States Military Academy Preparatory School. At the school he did well academically and played both basketball and tennis. The Secretary of the Army gave Billy an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point in March of 1977. He entered West Point in July 1977. During his first year he excelled in military leadership. Out of three hundred in his regiment Billy was selected as the top freshman. During his senior year he was named to the Dean's List and was chosen to represent West Point at a Virginia National Security Affairs Conference. Billy was awarded the Henry O. Flipper award which is given annually to the graduating West Point cadet who most exemplifies perseverance, determination, and excellence in all phases of cadet life. Upon graduation from West Point, on May 27, 1981, Billy was commissioned as an Armor Second Lieutenant in the regular Army. He was then stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where he attended Air Assault School and Armor Officer Basic. He attended Flight School at Fort Rucker, Alabama. Captain Billy Dean Hubbard, Jr. was killed in a helicopter crash on July 23, 1984. He was on maneuvers out of Fort Campbell, Kentucky as officer in charge of some ten helicopters involved in the operation. His helicopter crashed near Valdosta, Georgia. Billy was buried at Shiloh National Cemetery in Shiloh, Tennessee. He is missed by all who knew him. Deanie was my first cousin and my family loved and still misses him dearly. God bless you Deanie. Keep watching over us.

admin