If you knew or served with this Sailor and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
Contact Info
Home Town Brooklyn, NY
Last Address Birth: Brooklyn, Kings County (Brooklyn) New York Death: Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, Maryland
Date of Passing Dec 27, 2013
Location of Interment U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery and Columbarium (VLM) - Annapolis, Maryland
Captain "Jack" Hoch was born on 13 April 1929 in Brooklyn, NY, to Captain John Emerson Hoch, USN (Ret.) and Alice Miller Hoch. In 1947, Jack graduated from Moorestown Friends School in Moorestown, NJ.
After two uninspiring years as a civilian at Rutgers University, Jack excitedly accepted an appointment to USNA in 1949. Commissioned on June 5, 1953, he became a naval aviator in January 1955. His distinguished career involved service with Patrol Squadrons Three and Seven, Air Antisubmarine Squadron 34, Heavy Attack Squadron One and as CO of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 122. He qualified in 18 types of Navy airplanes and served ship's company tours in USS INDEPENDENCE (CV-62) as Catapult and Arresting Gear Officer and in USS ENTERPRISE (CVN-65) as "Air Boss." Jack later assumed command of USS MISSISSINEWA (AO-144), then served on COMNAVSURFLANT and COMSERVGRU TWO staffs, ultimately acceding to command as COMSERVRON TWO in Mayport, FL. Jack's final tour returned him to aviation as E-2C program Project Manager.
Jack's educational thirst was manifested by his MS degree in aeronautical engineering at the U. S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA; graduating from the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, 1965; completing the Senior Executives Course in the Sloan School of Management at MIT; and completing the Navy's Senior Officers Ship Material Readiness Course at the Nuclear Power Training Unit at Idaho Falls.
Jack received numerous awards and recognition throughout his career, including the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, and Navy Commendation Medal w/one star, among many others. Jack especially loved Navy Air, including the tight-knit squadron camaraderie.
Those working for Jack universally respected his "firm but fair" leadership style and truly enjoyed serving with him. He took personal interest in his subordinates, resulting in their always giving him their best effort. Jack said that, if he could relive his career, he would do so in a heartbeat.
On 1 August 1982, Jack retired from his beloved Navy, settling in Annapolis, and remained active with the Class of '53, supporting Navy sports and football in particular.
Description This Campaign period was from 1 November 1969 to 30 April 1970. The generally good performance of the Vietnamese Navy during the allied sweep into Cambodia motivated the transfer of significant operational responsibilities to the Vietnamese. The barrier along the Cambodian border was turned over to the Vietnamese Navy in March 1970, which renamed the operation Tran Hung Dao I. In May, Giant Slingshot and Sea Tiger became Tran Hung Dao II and Tran Hung Dao VII. The allied navies also launched Operation Blue Shark, a seven-month effort designed to strike at the Viet Cong command, communication, and logistics network (or infrastructure) in the mangrove swamps at the mouth of the Mekong River system, on the river islands, and along the river banks all the way to the Cambodian border. Coastal Surveillance Force PCFs landed SEALs and LDNN for swift, deadly attacks on the usually surprised enemy. The units often followed up on intelligence gathered by Naval Intelligence Liaison Officers (NILO) assigned to many of South Vietnam's provinces and operational areas.
Coinciding with the turnover of river and coastal fighting vessels in 1969 and 1970, the Navy transferred many of the bases from which they operated. The first change of command occurred at My Tho in November 1969. Then, in the last three months of 1970, COMNAVFORV placed the Phu Cuong, Long Binh, Kien An, Chau Doc, Tan Chau, and Ha Tien Operating Bases under Vietnamese control. The transfer of Sa Dec and Chu Lai the following spring completed the process. During this same period, the Vietnamese Navy took over the six Advanced Tactical Support Bases established on the Vam Co Dong and Vam Co Tay Rivers for the Giant Slingshot operation and two more on the Cua Viet River in I Corps. In addition, the allied naval service assumed control of the harbor defense posts of the Stable Door effort, the three existing coastal radar sites, and Market Time's coastal surveillance centers.
Meanwhile, the Navy deployed Seabee detachments throughout South Vietnam to construct logistic facilities at new and existing bases. Once the Seabees completed this work and U.S. leaders felt the Vietnamese could totally support their combat units, the Americans transferred the bases to their allies. In this manner, beginning in the spring of 1971, Rear Admiral Robert S. Salzer, the new COMNAVFORV, relinquished control of Cat Lo and An Thoi, two of seven primary Logistic Support Bases that provided allied naval forces with major vessel overhauls and other supply assistance. In the same period, the Vietnamese took charge of Ben Luc and Rach Soi, two secondary or Intermediate Support Bases. These installations handled minor craft overhauls and provided units with maintenance, administrative, financial, and supply support. The next incremental transfer occurred in September when the Dong Tam Logistic Support Base and eight Intermediate Support Bases were Vietnamized.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
November / 1969
To Month/Year
April / 1970
Last Updated: Mar 16, 2020
Personal Memories
Memories Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 122: Commanding Officer: CDR J. E. Hoch, Jr. USN, July 1969 to August 1970. USS America (CVA-66/CVAW-6), Vietnam.
