It’s a Small World
We hear the phrase “it’s a small world” more often than ever in this internet age, and here in the Santa Clarita Valley, it’s been proven time and time again for me. As I’ve interviewed SCV’s local veterans these last three years, I have periodically featured veterans who served in my combat unit during the Vietnam War. Jim Hogan is one of those veterans.

Brown Water Navy

When I spoke with Jim Hogan, a former member of Santa Clarita Valley Veterans Memorial, Inc., I learned that he served with the Brown Water Navy in the Mekong Delta along with my ole 9th Infantry Division during the Vietnam War. It’s noted that our Memorial Day committee facilitates SCV’s annual Memorial Day Ceremonies. Jim arrived in the Mekong Delta after my tour of duty ended January 6, 1968. Jim was born in Beloit, Wisconsin in September 1947, but his family moved to the San Fernando Valley in 1957, where he grew up, graduating from Birmingham High School on June 17, 1966. During Jim’s youth, he faced moderate hearing loss and he attended special education classes that greatly aided him to function.

Uncle Sam’s Letter
During and after high school, Jim worked for his stepfather as a liquor store clerk, assistant manager and later as a short order cook. However, in the summer of 1967, Jim received his greeting letter from Uncle Sam, drafting him into the U.S. Army. While undergoing a battery of physical and mental exams at downtown Los Angeles’ Induction Station, Jim was deemed 4F due to hearing loss, which barred him from military service. This was disconcerting news to Jim, as he possessed a strong sense of patriotism. After all, his father and four uncles served during World War II. Jim felt that he should serve his country, especially since so many San Fernando Valley young men were drafted or volunteered for military service. In the early days of the Vietnam War, across America, there was a certain sense of “service above self,” as most of our fathers had served in World War II. For Jim, and a great many young American males, President John F. Kennedy’s words during his Inaugural Speech were riveting: “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.”

Best Friend a Blessing
After moving to Santa Clarita, but working in Reseda, Jim met a Navy recruiter in 1969 and the two became fast friends, even sharing an apartment for a stint. This recruiter encouraged Jim to join the Navy. After taking the hearing test twice, with strong resolve, Jim maneuvered to pass, and thus he entered boot camp in May 1969 in San Diego. Within two weeks of boot camp graduation, Jim’s commander suspected his hearing loss and ordered a complete evaluation. Jim took five hearing tests in succession, promptly failing them one after the next, and hence he was deemed unfit for military service and would be medically discharged. Devastated, Jim implored his captain to allow him to serve in any capacity, whether it was cooking or working the commissary. However, Jim was sent to his barracks for further orders, where he borrowed money and called his Navy recruiter pal to explain his quandary. His friend simply replied that he would look into it. Oddly, nothing further was ever mentioned, as Jim continued to boot camp graduation.

Mobile Riverine Force
After training, Jim was assigned to the supply and barracks ship USS Whitfield County, docked in Yokosuka, Japan. Nervously, Jim experienced his very first airplane ride, as we all did in those days. Soon Jim participated in transporting Marines and Army personnel to Vietnam from Okinawa, Philippines, etc. Meanwhile, in 1967, elements of the U.S. Navy and U.S. Army had formed the Mobile Riverine Force, known as one of the most unique fighting forces in our military history. Navy barracks ships and upgraded WWII landed craft provided a base of operations and means of travel for 9th Infantry Division troops into the Mekong Delta’s countless waterways. The Mekong was extremely dangerous, as MRF’s mission was to destroy Viet Cong communist fighters. Jim’s ship joined this flotilla in the Mekong Delta after renovations were completed. Ultimately, Jim served three tours of duty in Vietnam, primarily with Whitfield’s Deck Division known as the ship’s workhorse – all activities were coordinated there. Jim also manned the gunnery division’s 3.5 inch guns and provided night-time on-deck guard duty, scouring shorelines with night vision scopes. That’s when Jim first noticed his deteriorating vision.

Honorable Discharge
In March 1972, Jim was reassigned to the USS Enterprise in Alameda, California, and soon participated in President Nixon’s final push, bombarding North Vietnam into ending the Vietnam War. In December 1972, the North Vietnamese returned to the peace table, and in January 1973, a cease-fire agreement was announced, thus ending the Vietnam War. Jim received an honorable discharge July 5, 1973, returning home via San Francisco’s airport, and like so many of us, he endured harassment from anti-war crowds assembled there. Undeterred, Jim returned home, where he became a building inspector for the City of Los Angeles and promptly pursued his American dream. Jim married his beautiful girlfriend, Pam Eldridge, on January 7, 1975, and they had two wonderful daughters.

Supporting Veterans

Jim was declared legally blind in October 1999 and was assigned to handle desk work until retiring in May 2006. Ever since, Jim, with Pam constantly at his side, has been actively supporting veterans. He’s received numerous awards, such as Recipient of The Department of Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service, National Advisory Committee 2014 Male Volunteer of the Year and the Blinded Veteran’s Association Major General Melvin J. Maas Achievement Award in 2015. Jim was one of our City’s early committee members who worked to fund and create Newhall’s Veterans Historical Plaza. Despite Jim’s challenges, he’s maintained a positive attitude and a terrific sense of humor. Jim and Pam Hogan remain true American patriots.

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