WW II veteran from Gaffney honored at BYU game

Gaffney resident Hobert Bright and his wife, Margie, are shown Sept. 24 participating in a BYU-Texas Christian pre-game ceremony. Local World War II veteran Hobert Bright received an unexpected honor during Brigham Young University’s (BYU) pregame ceremonies at its Sept. 24 football game against Texas Christian University.

Bright, a lifelong Gaffney resident, had the honor of firing a World War II and Korean War era 75 mm howitzer cannon in front of 60,000 fans as the BYU football team took the field.

The cannon was named “George Q.” in honor of an early Mormon pioneer named George Q. Cannon.

The firing of the cannon is part of a pregame tradition started by the BYU Army ROTC Alumni Association five years ago.

The pregame program includes an opening prayer, the band performing the national anthem and reading the biography of the “George Q.” honoree. Bright got to meet U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch, a BYU graduate and BYU football fan.

Bright, 86, and his wife, Margie, were in Provo, Utah, for the week to visit their daughter Kathy Bright Titus, some grandchildren and great-grandchildren. This was the first time in 40 years the Brights made a trip to Utah. Their daughter graduated from Gaffney High in 1968.

They were accompanied by their son Stephen Bright and his wife, Charleen, from Aiken.

BYU Army ROTC Alumni Association Chairman Don Savage became aware of Bright’s plans to visit and his committee submitted Bright’s name to the BYU president for approval as one of the veterans to honor during this season’s home football games.

“He did not know anything about this and probably would not have come out here if he had known about it,” Savage said. “He is a very humble man and does not seek attention about his service in World War II.”

Bright was in the second wave of soldiers who stormed Omaha Beach on D-Day (June 7, 1944).

He struggled ashore through chest-high water and mine fields on the beach while enemy gunfire sprayed around him.

He was wounded by gunfire from a sniper at St. Lo. He was evacuated to England where he was hospitalized for several months.

Bright was released in time to rejoin his unit for the Battle of the Bulge during Christmas of 1944. He received the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the World War II Victory Medal and the France Jubilee Medal of Honor.

“We became aware of him because he and his family are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” Savage said. “He was featured in a book written a few years ago by some BYU professors about Latter-day Saint servicemen who had served in combat during World War II.”

While visiting his daughter in Utah, Bright spent an hour on Sept. 26 speaking to 50 cadets from the BYU Army ROTC program.

“He held them spellbound telling of his experiences of going ashore on Omaha Beach as part of the Normandy Invasion, the Battle of the Bulge and other stories. He also shared his testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ and how the Lord had protected him during combat,” Savage said. “The cadets asked questions and it was a most reverent atmosphere. Afterwards in addition to a resounding standing ovation, each cadet came up and shook his hand and gave him a hug of appreciation.”