Passing CAPT William Jerry Fogle, USN (Ret.)
CAPT William Jerry Fogle USN (Ret) who served as a TACCO in VP-4 from 1962 to 1965.
Capt. William Jerry Fogle, U.S. Navy (Ret.) was born October 12, 1936, in Aurora, Missouri. He was the son of Arthur A. and Marjorie Fogle. As he frequently told people, he proudly served our country in the U.S. Navy for 31 years, 8 months and 4 days, and retired as a Captain on March 31, 1989. Jerry served on the USS Kitty Hawk, USS Coral Sea, and defended our country in Vietnam, where he received numerous medals, including a Bronze Star with Combat V and a Purple Heart. During his career, he was stationed in many places throughout the world, including Okinawa, Hawaii, Iceland, and England. Commodore Fogel served as Commanding Officer of NAVFAC Keflavik, Iceland and as Commodore at COMOCEANSYSLANT (COSL) in Norfolk, VA. He retired in Portland, Tennessee, and was very active as a community volunteer, and worked with the youth athletic soccer network as a referee for many years. He loved living in Portland and enjoyed his wide many friends in the community.
Jerry is survived by his five sons: Barry Fogle, (and his wife Angie) of Goodlettsville, Tennessee, Brett Fogle (and his wife Debbie) of White House, Tennessee, Eric Fogle of Nashville, Tennessee, Sgt. Lance Fogle (and his wife Sara), currently stationed in Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany, and LCDR Corey Fogle, USN, (and his wife Katie), currently stationed in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He also is survived by 8 eight grandchildren: Drew, Kara, Niki, Brock, Logan, Bella, Ryder and McClane. He was preceded in death by his wife Sharon many years ago and, more recently, by his wife Maureen.
The family would like to thank the staff at NHC Place, Sumner in Gallatin, Tennessee, who took such wonderful care of Jerry in his final days.
Visitation was at Austin and Bell Funeral Funeral Home in Hendersonville, Tennessee, on July 19. He received a Full Honors Military Funeral at the Middle Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery on July 31.
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Naval aviator praises flying, freedom
Dessislava Yankova, Gallatin News Examiner Published Nov. 9, 2015
For retired U.S. Navy Capt. Jerry Fogle, flying means freedom and so does Veterans Day.
"There're a lot of people who are a lot worse than (we are)," Fogle, 79, said. "There's no country like this one. We're very fortunate."
With a military career spanning 31 years, eight months and four days — Fogle including service in the Vietnam and Cold wars — lives in Portland. Locals know him as a long-time soccer referee who is still involved and cares about his community.
Fogle joined the Navy at age 22, just four days after graduating from Missouri State University. He followed in the footsteps of his father, a U.S. Army drill instructor and his uncles, one a belly gunner and the other a pilot. All three served in World War II.
U.S. Navy Capt. Jerry Fogle retired from the military in 1993.
"My uncle, who was a pilot and a flight instructor, took me flying in a BT4," Fogle said. "That's how I fell in love with it, gliding away from everyone and everything…you're surrounded by the sky, freedom basically."
Stationed aboard super-carrier USS Kitty Hawk and aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea, Fogle flew A-6 and P-3 aircrafts as well as a helicopter as a Naval aviator.
"The Vietnamese were flying a much newer version helicopters and it used to aggravate us big-time but we still outflew them," Fogle said. "We got shot at all the time. And it's not fun to have a telephone pole coming at you. That's what surface-to-air missiles look like."
Memorable moments
The attack aircraft A-6 Fogle flew with a weapons officer who dropped bombs over the enemy was hit a lot but only went down once.
"They don't fly very well with one wing," Fogle joked. "I parachuted out."
Once down, Fogle dug a hole and covered himself with dirt, grass and vegetation in the jungle, waiting for his troops, unsure if they would find him. He was rescued the next day.
As a result of ejecting from the aircraft, Fogle broke his right ankle, which required the installation of a metal rod. He later needed an artificial left knee.
Fogle counted the chances to debrief two prisoners of war and escort them home among his career highlights. The POWs spent years in captivity and shared stories for nearly four weeks. One of them used to be Fogle's boss while the two served in Washington D.C.
"It was very interesting," Fogle said. "They were gone for so long and you wondered inside yourself if you could handle it as they did."
Fogle escorted then-Naval Cmdr. John McCain from the Hanoi prison to the Philippines and the two "chatted all the way back."
It was quite the thrill for Fogle when as a navigator, the third in command on the Coral Sea, he helped align the 80,000-ton carrier with 5,000 people and up to 90 aircrafts to a much smaller ship to restock with fuel and food.
"That's a big kick," Fogle said. "That and bringing it into port. Coming home was always great and you're bringing everybody home to their honey. You felt big time."
Life at home
War, Fogle said, is hell.
"I went with the idea that I was going to help save humanity from communism," Fogle said. "But the locals, they didn't want us there. They were just worried where they'll get their next meal; they were worried about raising rice more than anything. I came a little disillusioned about why I went at the first place. I don't miss staff duty but I miss flying, especially the camaraderie."
Once in Portland, Fogle spent two years working at a gas station to get an everyday sense of the people. Three of his five sons played soccer, which led Fogle to love the sport and train as a referee.
"When my sons graduated, I had to do something with children," Fogle said. "I enjoyed being around the kids and their parents, and seeing how they were raised."
For 17 years, Fogle refereed at boys and girls soccer games in Sumner and surrounding counties. He stopped in 2014 after the rod in his ankle started hurting him and had to be removed.
"Basically, the screws were getting unscrewed," Fogle said. "I could fix it with a screw driver but they wouldn't let me."
Unable to run, he gave up refereeing but still attends games in Portland and Springfield. Many players he refereed now coach soccer in local schools.
Fogle volunteers at the Portland Public Library and helps children with disabilities.
Even now, he enjoys searching the sky for airplanes.
Ironically, I was just thinking about Jerry Fogle a week or so ago. He was my CO in Kef during the mid 70's and then Commodore in the mid 80's. Jerry was a unique character, outspoken and not one to mince words. If political correctness was not his forte, his decisiveness and honesty were. He undeniably had an illustrious and highly decorated career and the nation owes him it's gratitude. Jerry was an old school warrior, may he rest in peace and his family cherish their memories.
Sad news. You were a friend, a mentor and I have to say one of my Favorite CO's.
R.I.P. Captain.....I salute you!
So sorry to hear about Commodore Fogle. He wasn't just one of the good ones but one of the great ones. Rest in peace Commodore.
I first met Jerry when I was a VP 31 Instructor at Moffett Field. He was the loudest in class and led the happy hour fun at the BOQ bar with his potato cannon. He left for Kef and I got orders to Brawdy, and Jerry showed up as XO there after Kef. I was a watch officer and then Admin Officer becoming his right hand man and partner in crime.
I returned to VP at Moffett and at the end of my second sea tour and selection to Commander I got in touch with Jerry who was now COSP chief of staff. With his recommendation I was picked to go th Navfac Coos Head as CO, and he placed most of the other CO jobs in the Pacific with the friends he made throughout his career. He was a mentor to many, officers and enlisted. He got Robin Hood assigned to Coos Head for his first conus tour in 15 years, and took over the ops, best move ever.
Jerry and I kept in touch when he was in Norfolk and I was on the Joint Staff in D.C. . I stayed with him when we went to a reunion in 1988. Jerry was the best friend, shipmate, or CO anyone could have. The most honest straight shooter and loyal beyond all else.
He is someone I think about often, one of the truly great people you get to meet during your Navy career and your life. He will be missed.
Capt Fogle, The Bullfrog, was my first CO and my favorite. He was a no-nonsense kind of guy who could communicate his desires with just a look. Kef in '75 was a great place and he made it so. I was a bit of a hell-raiser and before he left Kef he said he would find me and kick my ass if I didn't straighten out. I thanked him for that years later when I saw him at COSL. He was a very big influence on my career and I'm sure he's straightening things out wherever he is today. He couldn't have done it all without Sharon and, later, Maureen who were so supportive throughout his service. I believe the Navy lost a great leader and would do well to have more like him today.