Frank Hoatson

O-1998224

Frank L. Hoatson was born August 24, 1918 near Hershey, Nebraska. His parents were William and Ruba B. Hoatson. He graduated from O'Fallons High School in 1938. Frank worked for his father in ranching and for the Great Western Sugar Company. He went to Santa Monica, California and was employed by Douglas Aircraft until he enlisted in the Air Force in 1942.
On December 5, 1942, he married Dorothy M. Detour who was teaching school at Squaw Creek in McPherson County (NE). Dorothy and Frank had four sons. Lee F. born April 30, 1944, three months after his father went overseas. Larry B. born January 21, 1946, Loren W. born December 25, 1950; and Layne J. born August 28, 1955. Layne died on September 29, 1955.

Frank L. Hoatson of Hershey, Nebraska, enlisted in the Army Air Corp in July 1942, and received training at Twenty Nine Palms, California, Albuquerque, New Mexico, Wichita Falls, Texas, and Lubbock, Texas.

He graduated as a Flight Officer on September 10, 1943, from Lubbock, Texas , after which he received additional training at Bowman Field, Louisville, Kentucky, and Maxton Field, Maxton, North Carolina.

Frank was then assigned to the Ninth Air Force in England as a glider pilot. Frank was a glider pilot with the 82nd Airborne Division and took part in the D-Day invasion at Ste. Mere Eglise, France. He was injured in one of the landings and hospitalized in England for several months. He returned to the States and was stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington, later given a medical discharge.

Frank received the Air Medal for "superb performance in the initial troop carrier phases of the invasion of the European continent." The citation accompanying the award read, in part:

"The magnificent spirit and enthusiasm displayed by this officer, combined with skill, courage and devotion to duty, is reflected in his operation of his unarmed glider of light construction, over water, and into the face of vigorous enemy opposition, with no possibility of employing evasive action, and the successful negotiation of landings in hostile territory, to spearhead the invasion of the Continent. His duty assignment was performed in such an admirable manner as to produce exceptional results in the greatest and most successful airborne operation in the history of world aviation."

He also received a Presidential Unit Citation for extraordinary service rendered. Frank attained the rank of Second Lieutenant.

Frank belonged to the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Dorothy was active in the American Legion Auxiliary.

Frank Leister Hoatson, 80, died Oct. 19, 1998, at his home in Sutherland, Nebraska.

God bless this hero.

BRIEF CLINICAL ABSTRACT

2d Lt. FRANKL L. HOATSON, AC, 01 998 224

Officer states he entered on active duty on 20 Sep 42 and has been on continuous active duty since that date. Officer was on general military service when admitted to this hospital.

Officer states that on 6 Jun 44 in France, he was piloting a glider at 2305 on “D” Day, 6 Jun 44 and in landing, the glider went through a hedge row and between two trees, demolishing the glider.  His left hip was injured but he was able to crawl and walk for a quarter of a mile to a foxhole.  He awakened the next morning and found it difficult to get up at all for a while because of pain in his left hip, but was finally able to walk back to the American positions.  Ever since that time he has been bothered with considerable pain in the left hip region.  He was treated through a dispensary but never actually admitted to a hospital.  His hip became gradually worse due to the hikes he was forced to take while training and he was admitted to the 98th General Hospital on 20 Dec 44.  He was then evacuated to the United States.  He was seen by Major Robert Denham, MC, Orthopedic Consultant on 5 Feb 45 whose report in part is recorded as follows:  “Arthritis, left hip, on basis of old slipped femoral epiphysis or Legge-Perthes’ disease.  Advise separation from the service.  Officer will have to either have an arthrodesis or an osteotomy of the femur sometime later in life, however, at the present time I do not believe that his symptoms are severe enough to warrant such extensive surgical procedure and suggest separation from the service.”  X-ray of the left hip taken on 7 Feb 45 is recorded as follows:  “There is flattening of the head of the left femur, with shortening of the neck.  This has the appearance of being the result of a mild Perthes’ disease.”  A general medical survey was made (including x-ray of chest and laboratory tests) and no significant defect other than that mentioned above was found.  

Air Medal Award and training records - STL Archives