David Hoglund

Posted on: Sep 11, 2023 at 11:40 PM

I did a drive by at Lincoln City OR. Dr Bill Frank has Stage 4 Prostrate Cancer. He has responded well to treatment and has outlived his prognosis. As the former captain of our cross-country team, I think his robust vitality has contributed to his longevity in his fight against cancer. He moves a little slow, but he still instructs flying, writes flying articles, and consults on safety issues for Cirus and Epic Aviation. His phone is 715-610-1025, and he will talk! Note, our wives got the memo to buy matching Orvis jackets for us at Cosco! He is looking forward to our 50th!

I have lost a friend. I best remember Dave as mentally and physically vigorous.  Not only was he was the top grad in the Aero Department, but he was fluent in French, and even as a cadet he was conversant in military and international affairs.  We spent many nights in the library playing with our slide rules and pecking on typewriters. I was a pimply face sergeant's kid from Denver, he was the Colonel's son who was the head of the Aero department, and when I was around him I just listened.  But he wasn't just an academic.  We competed together inter-collegiately on the varsity cross country team.  We both saw Steve Prefontaine, from behind!

Our biggest adventure was after graduation, as we caught a hop to England, and stayed with his parents in London for six weeks!  They were gracious hosts, as we wandered around London and took a trip to Paris and then the French Air Force Academy.  Gen Daley, too, was an intellectual giant as he quizzed us on history and art, and made us spot commercial jets transiting Heathrow.

In the Air Force, he and Tia-Lee were gracious hosts as we connected at Ft Rucker, Albuquerque, Scott AFB.  Not surprisingly, Dave became fluent in German.  And as the German Air Attache, he traveled into East Germany with several cameras.  I often wondered if is the pictures of Warsaw Pact jets, briefed by our intel officers, taking off with weapons, were snapped by Dave and his crew.

After active duty, we connected as I made trips to the puzzle palace (Pentagon).  He always had great insights into the latest military happenings around the belt-way.

Our final connection was just two weeks before his passing.  Miss Mary and I were in Baltimore for business at the end of Sep.  We were going to visit him and Tai-Lee at Swan Point, but he said not to drive down because he was bedridden with back pain.  He seemed upbeat and said he had the same pain before and  bounced back.  He and Tia-Lee had travelled extensively, and they were enthralled with their new retirement community on the Potomac, and only went back to their condo in Alexandria once every couple of weeks to check the mail.  He kidded me about my new heart medicine, and I complimented him on his great genetics as his dad, General Daley, recently died at 97 years old and his Mom is still alive.  So every day on Earth is but a gift, and we can only thank The Creator and trust The Savior!

A toast to the host of those who love the vastness of the sky!

Dave & Mary