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<em>William Morris Hoge, Jr., </em>was born in Lexington, MO. He attended Episcopal High School in Washington, DC, before entering his father’s alma mater by way of a congressional appointment from Arkansas. Originally a member of the Class of ’40, he graduated with the Class of ’41 as a member of M Company. He enjoyed most of cadet life and contributed to several Corps squad teams. About Bill, the <em>’41 Howitzer</em> reads, "the Army is richer by a good soldier and an ever dependable friend."</p>
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Following graduation, Bill joined the Field Artillery at Ft. Sill, OK. After completing basic training, he returned to Lexington to marry Lily Courtney, whom he had met at West Point. After a brief honeymoon, they reported to Alaska, where Bill served as Battery Commander of "A" Battery, 81st Field Artillery Battalion. In August 1943, he returned to Ft. Sill to complete the Field Artillery Advanced Course.</p>
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In May 1944, Bill joined the European Theater of Operations with the 1st Infantry Division as a battery commander. He participated in the landing at Omaha Beach on 6 Jun 1944 as a forward Artillery officer. The following day, in a most improbable encounter, he actually met and spoke with his father, BG William Hoge ’16, before rejoining his unit. As the Army progressed inland, Bill was wounded near Gavray, France, and again at Aachen, where he was awarded the Silver Star and two Purple Hearts for continuing to direct fire after being seriously wounded. He was hospitalized in England, where his first conscious memory was being given information about the birth of his second child. After his release from the hospital, he attended CGSC at Ft. Leavenworth, KS, and was restored to full service in 1946.</p>
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In the years that followed, Bill was assigned to Ft. Sill, OK, enjoyed two tours in Germany, and spent unaccompanied tours in Saudi Arabia and on Taiwan. During 1959-62, he was an instructor at CGSC. His final tour took him to Washington State University, where he was the Assistant Professor of Military Science and Training until his retirement as a lieutenant colonel in 1966.</p>
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Following military retirement, he earned a master’s degree in history from WSU and worked in the university’s Office of Personnel Services until his second retirement in 1976.</p>
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In the years between retirement and Lily’s death from cancer in 1987, Bill and Lily traveled frequently. He enjoyed hunting with his faithful Brittany Spaniel "Monique" and was an avid fly-fisherman, exploring most of the clear water streams of the Pacific Northwest. Following Lily’s death, Bill lived alone until 1997, when failing health brought him to the Army Retirement Community in San Antonio, TX. During the last three years of his life, he derived great pleasure from the close proximity of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, as well as that of his brother George and son-in-law David ’65. He and his golden retriever "Honeybear" were a well-known pair on the ARC grounds.</p>
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Four children, three grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren, to whom he was extraordinarily generous and who inherited his great love of the outdoors, survive Bill. They and his classmates will miss his keen sense of humor, his strong opinions, and his ability to tell a fine story.</p>