Hugh Campbell
Lieutenant Commander Hugh Lester Campbell of Lafayette, was the first U.S. serviceman to shoot down a Japanese plane during the Pearl Harbor attack on Dec. 7, 1941. Over 2,400 Americans were killed in the attack.
Mr. Campbell joined the Navy in 1932 and was serving on the U.S.S. Sumner when the surprise attack happened.
In a special dedication on Dec. 7, 2022, the city of Lafayette named the intersection of Highway 27 and Warthen Street after the Naval officer.
In a radio interview with this writer on Dec. 7, 1984, Mr. Campbell said he was on the U.S.S. Arizona for six years but transferred. Mr. Campbell died on March 3, 1993, and was buried in his home city of Lafayette.
Click here to listen to Mr. Campbell describe what happened.