Hughlon “Creep” Grisham attended West Point High School where he was an outstanding star football player. His nickname was “Creep” because he was a fst football player, but when not on the field, he creeped along at a slow pace. He was awarded a football scholarship to Copiah-Lincoln Jr. College where he completed two years of college.

On January 15, 1944, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant with the rating of aircraft observer (bombardier) at Kirkland Field, Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was stated that his appointment was based upon his physical, education and moral qualifications, plus his qualities of leadership and initiative during his training at Kirkland Field and the policy to recognize men of merit. “Creep” wrote his brother from northern Ireland. He stated that Ireland was nice and cold, but that he would take the good ‘ole states any ‘ole day. He commented that the cars rode on the left side of the road and that it didn’t get dark until 12:00 midnight. He wrote again telling his brother how tired he was from making three long bombing missions over Germany in three days, which had to be flown at high altitudes on oxygen with flak suits and other equipment.

Lt. Grisham was declared missing on August 1, 1944, after a bombing mission to Chartres, France. A year later the War Department wrote to his brother stating that Lt. Grisham was a crew member aboard a B-17 Flying Fortress aircraft which failed to return from the bombing mission in France. His plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire while over the target and then collided in mid-air with another US aircraft. The tail section of his B-17 plane came off, the plane went into a spin, leveled off for a short time and then disappeared from view. The War Department declared Lt. Hughlon Grisham as dead as of August 2, 1945. The War Department didn’t establish an actual or probably date of death, but by law a date had to be set the day following the expiration of 12 months absence. Lt. Grisham was posthumously awarded the Air Medal and the Purple Heart for his gallantry and devotion.

In March 1945, Lieutenant Grisham was posthumously awarded the Air Medal for his skill and courage.