Lance Corporal Hunter "HD" Hogan entered the USMC 26 OCT 2009. He served with the 1stBattalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division).

The most outstanding custom in the Marine Corps is simply "being a Marine" and all that it implies. Call it morale, call it esprit de corps, call it what you will-it is that pride which sets a United States Marine apart from the other armed services. It is not taught in manuals, yet it is the most impressive lesson a recruit learns in boot camp. It is not tangible, yet it has won fights against material odds. Perhaps Senator Paul H. Douglas has best defined it:

Those of us who have had the privilege of serving in the Marine Corps value our experience as among the most precious of our lives. The fellowship of shared hardships and dangers in worthy cause creates a close bond of comradeship. It is the basic reason for the cohesiveness of Marines and for the pride we have in our corps and our loyalty to each other". Lance Corporal Hunter "HD" Hogan was proud of his Corps and believed it to be second to none. He was loyal to his comrades and to the Marine Corps, adhering always to the motto Semper Fidelis , Always Faithful.

HD on his personal side was all about, as he said the 3 F's…family, friends, and fun. With emphasis on fun! Hunter lived his life at 110 miles per hour. Whether it be in his passion for rodeo and bucking horses, his enthusiasm hunting and fishing, or with his time in the Marine Corps.

HD had the ability to make people around him push themselves to be better at whatever they were doing. Be it with a quick witted comment or on occasions with his brutally honest sharp tongue. Hunter was a man that people gravitated to. Recent comments that have been posted on his Facebook page trumpet one thing about this young man. Saying not that HD was my best friend in 2nd grade or in football or in high school rodeo. Going down the list of posts they all began or ended with HD was my best friend, period. And there are few better than him to have on your side.

Hunter had opportunities to college rodeo. He chose the Marine Corps instead. Saying that he just wanted to serve his country for 4 years and he'd get back to rodeing afterwards. In doing so it brought him into the love of his life, Brittney. He was never so happy as when they were married on December 29th, 2010. For those of you who were blessed to be around them, you all knew that they were a perfectly matched couple. You could also see the true pure love that they had for each other.

We as family and friends of HD have all suffered a tremendous blow with the loss of this amazing young Hero. But through this tragedy some wonderful positives have begun to emerge.

His wife and father have decided as these positive things are popping up, that HD's up in heaven with us all in a pot. And he's occasionally reaching into it with a stick and giving it a quick little stir. Then sitting back with his crooked grin and giggling.

Hunter HD Hogan        Fearless and Brave        Man, he sure could Cowboy.