From humble beginnings to an impressive array of successes encompassing 87 years of vibrant living, LIVING by the Seat of My Pants! tells the story of the author's advance from a small town newspaperman to the staff of General Douglas MacArthur during World War II.
The life and times of the Bolton, Georgia native while growing up in the midst of the Great Depression and surviving to achieve ultimate success under sometimes adverse circumstances are chronicled.
The author traces his career, following graduation from the University of Georgia journalism school, starting as managing editor of the Cobb County Times in Marietta, through his distinguished army service in the Pacific, his post-war return to civilian life in Marietta, and finally his move to Atlanta to engage in the big-time printing business.
As a public relations officer and military censor on General MacArthur's staff for three and a half years, Hughes worked closely with war correspondents representing all the major news media of the world. The writing reflects the author's ability as a young PR officer to maintain friendly relations with the war correspondents while killing outright, or slashing to the hilt, their hard-won copy when necessary.
His writing makes World War II history, interwoven with his personal experiences, more palatable.
By far, the author's most vivid memory stems from witnessing the Japanese surrender ceremony aboard the battleship Missouri in Tokyo Bay on September 2nd, 1945.