John T. Hoops, World War II Hero, Passes Away at 89

John T. Hoops, a one-time chief yeoman in the U.S. Navy and flag writer for the late Fleet Adm. William F. (Bull) Halsey, died on Christmas day. The East Northport resident was 89.

Born in Brooklyn on Feb. 23, 1921, the son of John H. and Catherine Hoops of Glendale, New York, Hoops graduated from Franklin K. Lane High School in June 1940. He enlisted in the Navy on Nov. 2, 1940.

Hoops, a "Plank Owner" (part of the commissioning crew) of the destroyer USS Walke (DD-723), participated in the D-Day invasion of Normandy, on June 6, 1944, bombarding German blockhouses in Cherbourg, France. Afterwards the ship transited via the Panama Canal to the Western Pacific and the Philippine Sea where he participated in the re-taking of the Philippine Islands in the battle of Leyte, and in the landings at Ormoc Bay on the western coast of Leyte, where the Japanese mounted heavy kamikaze attacks on the supporting ships.

The Walke rescued crewmen of the destroyer Mahan that had been hit by kamikazes, shot down one plane and later sent the badly stricken Mahan to the bottom with a torpedo. Hoops then participated in the assault on Mindoro where Walke destroyed by gun fire the Japanese destroyer Wakaba. 

As part of the Seventh Fleet, the Walke then got underway for Amphibious Assault Operations in the Lingayen Gulf, Luzon, Philippines where on Jan. 6, 1945 she was attacked by four Japanese "Oscar" aircraft.  The ship sunk the first two when the third, though hit several times, pressed home its combination strafing run-suicide attack and crashed into Walke's bridge on the port side bursting into flames. 

Hoops, on the bridge as phone talker, "Distinguished himself by heroic and meritorious conduct in action" by "voluntarily and without regard for personal safety, extinguished fires on two officers.  In so doing, he received second degree burns of face, arms and hands.  His conduct throughout distinguished him among those performing duties of the same character," according to an official U.S. Navy report of the incident. For his actions Hoops was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, in the name of the President of the United States, and the Purple Heart Medal.

Hoops was promoted to the rank of Chief Petty Officer on June 1, 1945, and after months of recovering in the states from his wounds, was back on board Walke as she steamed into Tokyo Bay on September 16, 1945.  

After the war Hoops participated in two atomic bomb tests in Eniwetok Atol, and in 1947 he reported to the staff of the Professor of Military Science at the University of Rochester's NROTC Unit.  While in Rochester he called the girl he met before his combat service, Florence Ferrarese, courted her, became engaged on Feb. 14, 1948 (Valentine's Day) and married her on May 31 of that same year. 

Two years later, on Sept. 6, 1950 he was back at sea in USS Princeton (CV-37) off the coast of Korea where the ship and crew was awarded the Secretary of the Navy's Unit Commendation "For exceptionally meritorious service during operations against enemy aggressor forces in Korea…" 

During the Korean War, Hoops also served in USS Corduba (AF-32). 

In late 1951 he returned home to New York and was assigned to the Staff of the Commander Atlantic Reserve Fleet in New York City. In 1956 Hoops transferred along with his family to the Commandant Tenth Naval District for duty on the staff of the Commanding Officer, U.S. Naval Station, San Juan, Puerto Rico, making the voyage there and back by sea.

He returned to the states in 1958 and reported to the Commandant Third Naval District as Flag Writer for Fleet Admiral William F. (Bull) Halsey, USN. He took care of all of the Admiral's personal and official correspondence traveling between his Third Naval District Office located at 90 Church Street in Manhattan to the hotel where the admiral lived.  When the Admiral died in 1959, Hoops helped assemble information on the admiral's life for actor/director Robert Montgomery, who directed the movie "The Gallant Hours" about Halsey's life and his command of the assault on Guadalcanal during World War II.

Hoops was then assigned to the Joint Chiefs of Staff's Military Committee at the United Nations in New York City where he finished his career, retiring from the Navy on July 1, 1960.

Along with the Bronze Star and Purple Heart Medals, and Navy Unit Commendation, Hoops received the Good Conduct Medal (five awards), the American Defense Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, European-African Mideast Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Occupational Service WWII Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal, United Nations Service Medal, Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Commendation Medal and the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Commendation Medal. He was also authorized to wear the Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge.

In July 1960 he moved to East Northport, Long Island and embarked on a civilian career eventually rising to the position of Supervisor of Employee Benefits for the 2,000 employee-strong Coats & Clark at its U.S. corporate offices in Manhattan and later its new site on the Long Island Sound in Stamford, Conn.

He retired from Coats & Clark in 1985 and continued to reside on Long Island, taking advantage of the fishing from his Boston Whaler boat. He spent time traveling across the country, visiting his children and grandchildren, exploring Long Island, completing an assortment of home and yard projects and staying very active.

Hoops was predeceased by his three brothers: William, Michael (Jerry) and Robert, who all served in the Navy during his years of service.  He leaves behind his wife of 62 years, Florence, his four children: CDR John R. Hoops, USN (Ret.) and his wife Elizabeth, Kathryn S. and her husband Steven M. Tafuro, Barbara A. and her husband Robert V. Rizzi, and James M. Hoops. 

He leaves eight grandchildren:  QM1(SW) Robert P. Hoops, USN, LS1(SW) Katherine E. Hoops, USNR, Mary B. Hoops, Brianne, Amanda and Hayley Tafuro, Brian Rizzi and his wife Ashley, and Grant Rizzi and his wife Jessica.  He leaves one great grand daughter:  Mariana Nicole Hoops.  

"My father was very proud of his service in the US Navy, but he never discussed his record of bravery and heroism," said Hoops' son, James. "As a Navy man, he was organized, disciplined and strong willed, but he was the most loving and generous father any child could hope to have. He loved Long Island and all its beauty and never considered living anywhere else. Although he was nearly 90, he still had a zest for life and will be terribly missed by everyone in his family."

A funeral Mass was offered at St. Matthew Roman Catholic Church in Dix Hills by Msgr. James McDonald, a family friend. Interment is at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

Editor's Note: Obituary courtesy Jim Hoops.