Complex sentence: Balmville was the birthplace of Air Force General James D. Hughes and General Hughes, a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point (located only about 17 miles away) continued to live in Balmville with his family for most of his life.
Split into simpler sentences: Balmville was the birthplace of Air Force General James D. Hughes. A graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point (located only about 17 miles away), Gen Hughes continued to live in Balmville with his family for most of his life.