Hogan Is January 2023 Kosciusko County Veteran Of The Month
January 4, 2023 at 12:24 a.m.
Hogan Is January 2023 Kosciusko County Veteran Of The Month
By David [email protected]
Gerald “Jerry” Hogan was recognized with the award Tuesday during the Kosciusko County Commissioners meeting.
In announcing the award, Kosciusko County Veteran Service Officer Darryl McDowell read Hogan’s biography that he prepared for the ceremony.
McDowell said Hogan is a Warsaw native and graduate of WCHS.
“He received his appointment to the United States Naval Academy - a pretty big deal - the first one from (WCHS),” McDowell said.
Upon graduation, Hogan was commissioned as an officer in the Marines. As a Marine, Hogan served in Quantico, Va.; Okinawa, Japan; Philippines, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; and Lansing, Mich.
He participated in Operation Frequent Wind, “which is not a topic in our history together, but you know the events, and that was the evacuation of Saigon,” South Vietnam, McDowell said, “which is a pretty big deal because it was a hip-shoot, meaning planning was very quick and they had to execute it on very short notice.”
Hogan served in South Vietnam and earned the Vietnam Service Medal, the Armed Forced Expeditionary Medal, the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal, Presidential Unit Citation and Defense Service Medal. He served on active duty for six years, reaching the rank of captain before resigning his commission to pursue a civilian career.
Hogan spent 20 years in management positions, primarily in the electronics component industry, until he founded his own company in 2000.
“In this role, Jerry trained hundreds of people in leadership sales, process efficiency and behavioral analysis,” McDowell said. “Since 2020, Jerry has been happily semi-retired - I know what that means. He enjoys spending his time with his wife, Sally, and their Goldendoodle Winston. Sally and Jerry raised seven children and have 11 grandchildren and two great-granddaughters.”
Hogan is a Veterans of Foreign Wars life member of Post 1143 and a 36-year member of American Legion Post 49. He’s also a member of the Marine Corps Association and the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association. He also volunteers his time and energy in supporting active and reserve troops, McDowell said.
A former commanding officer of the Warsaw unit of the Indiana Guard Reserve, Hogan served for several years as the area Blue and Gold officer - the admissions support unit of the Naval Academy. Hogan served on the State Senate’s Military and Veterans Affairs Commission and was a captain in the Civil Air Patrol.
Currently, Hogan serves as the area vice chair of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense organization that serves as a liaison between the National Guard and Reserve servicemembers and their civilian employers. McDowell said it was a tough challenge and the organization is tasked with ensuring that servicemembers and employers understand and adhere to their rights and responsibilities under the Uniform Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act.
After Hogan was presented a framed certificate, he said, “Thank you. I appreciate the honor. I accept this on behalf of all veterans. All who served are worthy of our respect and our recognition.”
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Gerald “Jerry” Hogan was recognized with the award Tuesday during the Kosciusko County Commissioners meeting.
In announcing the award, Kosciusko County Veteran Service Officer Darryl McDowell read Hogan’s biography that he prepared for the ceremony.
McDowell said Hogan is a Warsaw native and graduate of WCHS.
“He received his appointment to the United States Naval Academy - a pretty big deal - the first one from (WCHS),” McDowell said.
Upon graduation, Hogan was commissioned as an officer in the Marines. As a Marine, Hogan served in Quantico, Va.; Okinawa, Japan; Philippines, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; and Lansing, Mich.
He participated in Operation Frequent Wind, “which is not a topic in our history together, but you know the events, and that was the evacuation of Saigon,” South Vietnam, McDowell said, “which is a pretty big deal because it was a hip-shoot, meaning planning was very quick and they had to execute it on very short notice.”
Hogan served in South Vietnam and earned the Vietnam Service Medal, the Armed Forced Expeditionary Medal, the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal, Presidential Unit Citation and Defense Service Medal. He served on active duty for six years, reaching the rank of captain before resigning his commission to pursue a civilian career.
Hogan spent 20 years in management positions, primarily in the electronics component industry, until he founded his own company in 2000.
“In this role, Jerry trained hundreds of people in leadership sales, process efficiency and behavioral analysis,” McDowell said. “Since 2020, Jerry has been happily semi-retired - I know what that means. He enjoys spending his time with his wife, Sally, and their Goldendoodle Winston. Sally and Jerry raised seven children and have 11 grandchildren and two great-granddaughters.”
Hogan is a Veterans of Foreign Wars life member of Post 1143 and a 36-year member of American Legion Post 49. He’s also a member of the Marine Corps Association and the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association. He also volunteers his time and energy in supporting active and reserve troops, McDowell said.
A former commanding officer of the Warsaw unit of the Indiana Guard Reserve, Hogan served for several years as the area Blue and Gold officer - the admissions support unit of the Naval Academy. Hogan served on the State Senate’s Military and Veterans Affairs Commission and was a captain in the Civil Air Patrol.
Currently, Hogan serves as the area vice chair of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense organization that serves as a liaison between the National Guard and Reserve servicemembers and their civilian employers. McDowell said it was a tough challenge and the organization is tasked with ensuring that servicemembers and employers understand and adhere to their rights and responsibilities under the Uniform Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act.
After Hogan was presented a framed certificate, he said, “Thank you. I appreciate the honor. I accept this on behalf of all veterans. All who served are worthy of our respect and our recognition.”
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