Obituaries/Military:  P. Hugh "Sonny" Mercer, Jr., 1968, Winn Parish, LA.
Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483
**********************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm
**********************************************


 



From:  January 15, 1968 Winn Parish Enterprise-News American

Major Mercer Rites Pending in Winnfield

Funeral services will be held at the First Baptist Church in Winnfield, for
Major P. Hugh "Sonny" Mercer, 35, who died January 20 in the Clark Air Force
Hospital in the Philippines.  Major Mercer was injured when the plane he was
piloting was downed  over Vietnam.  He was rescued and transferred to his base
in Thailand.  From there he was taken to the hospital in the Philippines.

Funeral arrangement time is pending the arrival of the body to Winnfield.  Dr.
W. L. Holcomb will officiate and services will be under the direction of
Hixson Brothers Funeral Home.

Major Mercer was born in Winnfield and graduated from Winnfield High School. 
He was drum major with the band.  He was graduated from Northwestern receiving
his bachelor's degree in Business Administration.  While attending college he
played in the college band and was a member of the "Demonaires" band.

Also at Northwestern College, he participated in the ROTC program, making the
rank of Lieutenant.  He entered the Air Force after college graduation as a
Lt. and had been in the service for 12 years at the time of his death.  He was
stationed in Japan for three years before being stationed at Tak Lee AFB,
Thailand.  Major Mercer was assistant operations officer of the base and  had
been a pilot of a E-66 reconnaissance plane since he was stationed at the base
in Thailand, nearly one year.

Major Mercer was an active member of the First Baptist Church in Winnfield, as
a boy, and later on when he and his wife resided in Winnfield.

He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. P. Hugh Mercer, Sr., of Winnfield;
his wife, Mrs. Sudie Loomus Mercer of Alexandria; two daughters, Lee Ann
Mercer and Danna Lynn Mercer of Alexandria; two sons, P. Hugh Mercer III and
Carl Mercer, of Alexandria.  Also three sisters, Mrs. Vee Hudson of Coushatta;
Mrs. Ann Dean of Shreveport, and Mrs. Doris Sikes of Winnfield.