Nyorai kupfuurira kweiyi ndima - Muna June 1897, Hughes akagadzwa kuva lieutenant wechipiri weInfantry uye akagoverwa ku17th Infantry Regiment. Muna August akaendeswa ku4th Infantry Regiment ndokuendeswa kuFort Sheridan, Illinois. Munguva yeHondo yeSpanish-American, Hughes akashanda ne4th Infantry muCuba, uye akakuvadzwa muna Chikunguru 1, 1898 Hondo yeEl Caney
. Pashure pokuzorora, akadzokera kubasa paFort Sheridan. Hughes akagamuchira Citation Star nokuda kwoushingi paEl Caney. Apo Hondo yakagadzira Silver Star muna 1918, mubairo waHughes wakashandurwa kuva menduru itsva.