Captain Hula was a veteran of World War II. In Korea, he was Commanded Company L, 3rd Battalion, 5th Infantry Regimental Combat Team. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy near Waegwan, South Korea, on 18 September 1950.

For his leadership and valor, Captain Hula was awarded the Silver Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, the Korean War Service Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.