The Navy will posthumously award Lance Cpl. Donald Hogan the Navy Cross for his heroic actions while fighting in Afghanistan. The San Diego Union-Tribune reports Navy Secretary Ray Mabus will present the Navy Cross to Jim and Carla Hogan, the fallen Marine's parents, during a special ceremony at Camp Pendleton on January 18.
Hogan grew up in San Clemente, California - not far from Camp Pendleton. He served with the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment in the Nawa District of Afghanistan. According to the U-T:
He was killed on Aug. 26, 2009 as he warned off other Marines from a hand-triggered bomb, saving their lives.
The Dana Point 5th Marine Regiment Support Group is hosting two benefit screenings of the documentary Patrol Base Jaker in Hogan's memory. The film is about the experiences of the 1/5 in Nawa, and has actual footage from the day Hogan was killed.
You can see part of that footage in this lovely tribute video to Hogan posted on YouTube by the Marine Corp Scholarship Foundation:
