HOMETOWN HERO — Nick Hauck, the nephew of Capt. David L. “Nick” Hauck spoke Thursday night at the annual memorial for the village native who died when his aircraft crashed during an Air Force Thunderbirds airshow in 1981. -- Amy Neeley

MINGO JUNCTION — On May 9, 1981, village native Capt. David L. “Nick” Hauck was performing with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, when black smoke began to pour out of his exhaust and his aircraft began losing altitude.

According to Air Force records, the safety officer instructed Hauck to eject from the plane.

He responded, “Hang on … we have a bunch of people down there.”

In that split instance, Hauck decided to steer the plane away from the crowd, knowing that it would probably mean losing his own life.

No one on the ground was injured that day, even though the accident occurred adjacent to a roadway packed with onlookers.

Hauck perished in the crash leaving behind, a wife, two daughters and a heroic legacy.

Thursday, the Mingo Business Association held its annual Hometown Hero memorial for Hauck at Indian Creek Middle School.

Nick Hauck, the pilot’s nephew, said that while he was born four years after that fateful day, he is proud to carry on his uncle’s name and tell people about his story.

“People never fail to be touched when I tell them his story,” he said.

Nick Hauck said his uncle’s personal motto in life was that “If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right.”

“As a man, I feel compelled to live up to that,” he said.

“The three words everyone uses to describe my uncle are ‘admiration, teammate, and hero.'”

According to the story, Hauck first got the flying bug in as a high school senior at the former Mingo High School, but after taking the test to be a pilot, he was rejected because of his English scores.

He then went to Kent State University to study and take the test again — the results were not much better.

It took him three tries before he made his goal to fly jets.

“But he did not give up,” Christian McGraw said in his winning essay about Hauck.

McGraw was one of four fourth-grade students who wrote essays and were asked to read them at the memorial.

Elise Canestraro said in her essay, “He was a great person, who never gave up. He made the right choice (to save the people on the ground). He was a good man and even a hero.”

Ruby Howell wrote in her essay that the incident was a “tragedy” that no one will ever forget.

Hailee Hixenbaugh agreed, “We will never forget his legacy.”

Indian High School Senior Trent Bolek also wrote a winning essay about Hauck.

“I did not know about Hauck before this, but his story has impacted my way of thinking” he said. “Knowing someone from my own community can do that has inspired me.”

Catholic Central High School senior Richard F. Terry also wrote a winning essay but was unable to attend. He received the Capt. David L. Hauck Memorial Scholarship during the Catholic Central awards banquet, which was held Thursday. The award was presented by Nathan Hauck, the nephew of Capt. Hauck.

All the essay writers were giving certificates from Gov. Michael DeWine; U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson, R-Marietta; state Sen. Frank Hoagland, R-Mingo Junction; and state Rep. Jack Cera, D-Bellaire.