JERRY F. HOGAN, LCDR, USN
Jerry Hogan '64
Lucky Bag
From the 1964 Lucky Bag:
JERRY FRANKS HOGAN
Wilton, Alabama
Hogs
24th Company
"Hogs," an old cain raiser from the lush, green bottom land of Alabama, discarded his white sheet after his high school frolics to enter the Navy as an enlisted man. His first impression was one of deep enthusiasm and consequently, he decided that the Navy was to be his life. He entered NAPS and soon after was accepted to join the "Hellacious Throngs" of the Brigade. With his "sweet" smile, he met with very little difficulty. His primary interests are Crew, Books and Women but not necessarily in that order. With his deep southern drawl and his stellar personality, he is quickly accepted by young and old alike. He is presently planning to enter into Naval aviation via the Burke program.
JERRY FRANKS HOGAN
Wilton, Alabama
Hogs
24th Company
"Hogs," an old cain raiser from the lush, green bottom land of Alabama, discarded his white sheet after his high school frolics to enter the Navy as an enlisted man. His first impression was one of deep enthusiasm and consequently, he decided that the Navy was to be his life. He entered NAPS and soon after was accepted to join the "Hellacious Throngs" of the Brigade. With his "sweet" smile, he met with very little difficulty. His primary interests are Crew, Books and Women but not necessarily in that order. With his deep southern drawl and his stellar personality, he is quickly accepted by young and old alike. He is presently planning to enter into Naval aviation via the Burke program.
Loss
Jerry was killed in action when his A-4C Skyhawk, flying from USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) as a part of Attack Squadron 112 (VA-112), crashed on January 20, 1967 during a nighttime strike in North Vietnam. "He was part of a two ship strike against shipping traffic (barges) on a river south of Thanh Hoa; he and his strike leader dropped flares in order to prosecute their targets, and he dove his aircraft at the targets. The flight leader then saw another explosion near the river in a marshy area, and soon realized that was Hogan's plane when he no longer responded to radio calls." (From Chris Williams at the Defense POW/MIA Agency on April 19, 2018.)
Jerry was a LTjg at the time; he was promoted while in a MIA status.
Other Information
From the March 1978 issue of Shipmate:
LCdr. Jerry Franks Hogan USN was declared killed in action on 2 December 1977. He had been missing since 21 January 1967 when, on a night flight over the Song Yen River in Vietnam he was lost to enemy gunfire.
Appointed to the Naval Academy from the State of Alabama, he was graduated with the Class of 1964. entered flight training and was designated naval aviator in 1966. His first assignment was to VA-112. based at Lemoore. California. This squadron was later attached to Carrier Air Wing ELEVEN on board Kitty Hawk when the carrier sailed for Vietnam.
He is survived by his widow. Melissa, daughter of Capt. Harold H. Larsen USN (Ret.) '35, 2192 Iroquois Lane. Falls Church VA 22043; his parents and a brother.
Photographs
Photo was taken in 1958 while Jerry was a Civil Air Patrol cadet at the Jet Orientation Course at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, just before his first ride in the T-33 behind him. Photo courtesy Ann Pitt TideToRoll@aol.com
Remembrances
I will always remember the painting on the door to the VA-112 Airframes shop aboard USS Kitty Hawk entitled 'Hogans Heroes.' You are a hero and I am proud to have served with you in VA-112 and you will always be remembered.
DAVE MEANEY, DMEANEYSR@MSN.COM, 5/22/13
To a great person
I was there we he was shot down, I will remember that day for the rest of my life I was the last person to salute him on the cats before he took off.
JDEBAERE@WI.RR.COM, 12/3/12
I have many fond memories of Jerry, from High School and our camping trips to Lake Jordan, Al. The last message from Jerry, was when he won a car. I keep his memory in my heart and prayers. God bless him! ROBERT EVANS, hawkeye50@home.com, 11/20/01
Other Information
From researcher Kathy Franz: "Father Mercer R., truck driver for Alabama Power Company, mother Lois. Married Melissa Roberts Larsen on 12/19/1964."
Jerry is listed at the Courts of the Missing in Hawaii.
Related Articles
Charles Parish '64 was also in 24st Company.
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
