Bergen County Clerk Shares Personal Story of Fallen Hero as Election Day Approaches

To show how important it is for one to vote, Bergen County Clerk, John S. Hogan, shares a personal story of his family’s fallen hero, his uncle Dennis L. Hogan, Jr.

In early 1942, soon after the devastating attack on our country at Pearl Harbor, Dennis, the seventh of 15 children, felt it was his patriotic duty to enlist in the army. At 20 years old, Dennis became a member of the 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment, which was part of the 11th Airborne. Their task was to prepare for the eventual invasion of Japan by “island-hopping,” which was the recapturing of strategic islands.

In 1944, Dennis and the 511th were dispatched to New Guinea to prepare for the invasion of the Philippines. In November, Dennis was involved in the campaign to capture Leyte Island. Their mission was to parachute in and seize and secure the central mountains and then march to Ormoc Bay.

On Christmas Day of 1944, after over a month of engaging the enemy, Dennis and the soldiers of the 511th victoriously came out of the mountains in view of the bay—the best Christmas present they could ask for.

Dennis and the 511th next parachuted into Luzon on February 3, 1945. The next day, Dennis single-handedly took out the enemy’s machine gun nest that was holding them up at the bridge.

On February 7, 1945, Dennis was injured during hand-to-hand combat, for which he was awarded a Purple Heart.

Photos of Dennis as a soldier show a strong, confident, determined young man. And so, despite being injured, he continued with the 511th parachuting into and helping to free over 2000 civilians held captive at the Los Banos POW camp.

In March of 1945, Dennis’ unit was given the mission to clear supply routes to the southern port city of Batangas. Again dispatched to nearly impossible mountainous terrain, they encountered an enemy who were committed to die for their Emperor—a suicide defense.

On April 22, Dennis’ company was overrun on Hill 2380. My family has learned from recent research that, during the battle, Dennis picked up a wounded fellow soldier, lifted him over his shoulder and attempted to move him to safety. Dennis was then shot in the back. He was lost along with many of the brave members of his unit.

The battle continued for days, the hill constantly bombarded by U.S. forces. It was finally recaptured 1 week later.

The bodies of 16 of Dennis’ fellow soldiers were recovered and, initially, Dennis’ body was listed as recovered and buried in the Batangas Cemetery.

But when my grandparents tried to have his body returned to the U.S., the cemetery had no record of Dennis. My grandparents spent the next 5 years trying to locate his remains.

In late July 1950, my grandparent’s hearts were again broken when they received a letter from the U.S. Department of Army that said, in part: “Since all efforts to recover and identify Dennis’ remains have failed, it has been necessary to declare that his remains are not recoverable.”

69 years ago, Private First Class Dennis L. Hogan, Jr bravely marched into the mountains of Batangas province for a cause greater than himself. He perished at the young age of 23 so that future generations can enjoy the freedoms we share today.

Dennis’ sacrifice, and the sacrifices of so many others, should not have been in vain. In their honor I ask that you join with me in exercising our most fundamental right—the right to vote.

If you are preparing to vote for the first time, or haven’t voted in a while, it’s important that you first register to vote. This is done by completing a simple form that is available in every Municipal Clerk’s Office and the Office of the Bergen County Superintendent of Elections. This year’s deadline to register to vote in the General Election is Oct. 14.

Voting is not an inconvenience. It is our right and privilege.

If you find it difficult to get to the polls on Election Day, you have the option of voting by mail. The last day to apply (application forms available in every Municipal Clerk’s Office and the Office of Bergen County Clerk) for a Vote-By-Mail ballot by mail is Oct. 28. I am also opening the County Clerk’s Elections Division on Saturday, Oct. 25 and Sunday, Oct. 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and on Saturday, Nov. 1 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 2 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. so you can Vote-By-Mail in person. The last day to apply at the County Clerk’s Office in person for a Vote-By-Mail ballot is Nov. 3 up to 3 p.m.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Please join with me in paying tribute to my hero uncle, Dennis L. Hogan, Jr. and all of our fallen heroes by exercising your right to vote.