Team,
I hope that this note finds you well. When its all said and done, it’s been a difficult week for Carla and me, but not one without bright spots and while not a happy ending, a day filled with cherished friends, tears and laughter and unforgettable memories.
I’d like to thank all of you who took the time to reach out to us last week. Your kind notes and calls were deeply appreciated, and we cannot express our gratitude for your compassion, empathy, and friendship during a hard period.
We received another kindness this week that I would like to share with you.
There is a monument to my son located at Camp Pendleton. It is called the Lance Corporal Donald J. Hogan Bachelor Enlisted Quarters. It is a sprawling three building complex capable of housing a battalion of Marines.
It was dedicated on January 17th, 2012, along with the presentation of Donald’s Navy Cross during a ceremony that featured his Battalion, the Regimental and Division Commanders, the Secretary of the Navy and the Marines that were on the patrol with him that day. It was quite a memorable day for me and Carla.
At the entrance to the complex is a plaque that has a picture of our son in Afghanistan, his biography, and his Navy Cross Citation. Over the years, thousands of Marines have lived in those barracks, and in doing so, had an opportunity to read our son’s story and to keep his memory alive and his connection to their history alive.
Time, however, is no great respecter of things. Monuments especially. The years, the sun and the weather have eroded the plaque to the point that the picture was no longer recognizable.
Last year, the Regiment got a new Commander. Colonel Robert Weiler. Colonel Weiler is a long-time 5th Marine Regiment Marine, having served with 2/4 in Ramadi during the Ramadi uprising where he was awarded the Silver Star for his relentless assaults on enemy positions during the uprising. He also served as the Battalion Commander for 2/4. During that time Rob befriended us. We have appreciated the friendship and kindness of he and his family and count them as some of our dearest friends.
When he took command, he asked if we would like to do something to commemorate the anniversary of Donald’s death as he believed the connection of the current Marines who had never served under fire to our son’s bravery. We agreed and planned to do something.
However, due to COVID-19, and the needs of the Marine Corps we assumed that nothing would be happening and understanding the challenges, we thought we would delay it. Then the phone rings and Rob tells us that the plaque has been refurbished and is installed, do we want to go forward?
We decide to delay the ceremony past Wednesday the 26th to Friday the 28th so that following the ceremony, the Marines can go on with their weekend. From that point it is handed off to the Sergeant Major and when that happens you know things are going to get one.
This ceremony is much smaller than the original. There are 50 people total due to COVID regulations. 30 of them Marines who are part of the ceremony and 20 guests. We are honored by the men who join us as each has a connection to our son or his legacy.
There is a young man who went to boot camp with our son and deployed during both of 1/5’s deployments. In addition to our family we were graced with several Marines who were close to Donald. Donald’s Company Commander, another Company Commander and a First Sergeant who were on the deployment are there. The Commander of the 1st Marine Division and his wife join us. He was a Colonel and Chief of Staff for the Division at the time. He and his wife attended both the funeral and the memorial service. There is a Marine who was the Regimental Commander at the time of Donald’s death who we believe to be responsible for the Barracks being named after him. One of the Marines is a former 1/5 Commander who took the unit back to Afghanistan on the deployment after Donald and a wounded warrior who was injured during that deployment. We were also honored to have a Marine who had been with Donald during his patrol with us.
The ceremony itself is short. An invocation, the reading of Donald’s biography and citation then remarks.
Colonel Weiler talks about Donald and his legacy. He observes that the barracks is a special place in that it is named after a Lance Corporal. Not a General, or a Colonel or a Sergeant Major, but a Lance Corporal and that it houses the same. Lance Corporals. He also shares about the reason that he was focused on the task, that he did not want anyone to think that as the plaque had faded, so had our son’s memory. He emphasized that our son’s memory is alive at 1/5, 5th Marines and the 1st Marine Division and will remain so as long as there is a Marine Corps.
Next 1st Sergeant Juan Elizondo, who was a Sergeant at the time of the action gives an account of the day. He talks not only about the action, but also who Donald was as a Marine. Cheerful, dedicated and always willing to volunteer.
Carla and I are asked to come to the podium. My remarks are brief. My voice breaks while delivering them. I thank our guests for coming and I thank the Marines who took their time to honor our son. I tell them the truth, that losing Donald destroyed our family and severed our connection to the world that we had lived in, but that through their kindness they had brought us back. That the reason that we like to be around Lance Corporals is that through their smiles and laughter, we see our son’s smile again and hear his laughter. That we are grateful that they restored us by giving us a mission and a purpose.
The speakers play Waltzing Matilda, Anchors Away and the Marine Corps Hymn and the ceremony is over.
We provide lunch for 300 Marines as a thank you for taking their time to join us that day. It’s Carne Asada Burritos and Apple Pie. We visit with our guests and go back to the serving area and are greeted by the sight of a bunch of young Marines eating, drinking, and laughing.
It’s the best part of the day.
We spend the next hour talking with our friends and making new ones until Time raises its ugly head again. One by one our friends and family leave, we pack the car and go home.
That evening Carla and I reflect on the kindness and compassion that so many shows to us on daily. How we are truly blessed.
I’m sorry if you didn’t receive an invitation to the ceremony, we were limited in the number we could provide. You can check out the pictures of the event by going to:
https://www.facebook.com/pg/SocksforHeroes/photos/?tab=album&album_id=3241832272568122
You don’t need a Facebook account to see them. However, you were all with us in our hears that day. We’re grateful that you are all in our lives today. Thanks for joining us in our position in this fight!
Jim Hogan
In memory of our son, LCPL Donald Hogan
Posthumously awarded the Navy Cross
KIA 8/26/2009 Nawa, Afghanistan
We honor his memory by caring for Americans wherever they serve in harm’s way