Francis Hufnagel's Story:

Francis X. Hufnagel was born in May 1934 and grew up in Hyde Park, Boston, Massachusetts. Growing up he came to admire his older brother Joe as he had served in World War II on both the Atlantic and Pacific front. This inspired him to choose military service, signing up for the Marines shortly after graduating. And though he would then retract on that decision after seeing a good friend of his return from the war badly burned and scared, he would still pursue service in the Army.

Mr. Hufnagel trained at Indiantown Gap which the recruits dubbed “Little Korea” and shipping out to fight in the Korean Conflict on (date) for a 33 day voyage to Japan. After taking a military ferry from Japan to Pusan he spent the next year and a half doing mostly peacekeeping and guard work throughout southern Korea due to the ceasefire and 38th Parallel Armistice being negotiated at the time.

Throughout his time there he had many memorable experiences, some worthy to be looked back on fondly, some tragic, others even traumatic. And so with this he still looks back on it saying “I would do it again” years after that day when he took the long voyage back, and when he got off a train returning to his home street seeing his parents, siblings, and friends who welcomed him joyfully home.

He met his wife shortly thereafter and they eventually found their way to Cape Cod via a teaching career at Mattacheese Middle School.(Choosing between contracts there, Nantucket, or Australia) Living around Centerville since then his hobby of fishing has become his favorite activity aside from spending time with his beloved wife and family. Francis X. Hufnagel’s story can truly be seen as inspiring as he is a true witness to war.