Bill Doyle Hodge

A VETERAN OF THREE WARS AND THREE SERVICES: Serving Honorably: USN, WWII (UNDERWATER DEMOLITION); USMC, KOREA

(SEARCH AND RESCUE); USAF VIET NAM, (SEARCH AND RESCUE).

Bill was awarded during his military career: Medals: Good Conduct , National Defense, Asiatic Pacific Area Campaign, Victory WWII including European Theater; Philippine Liberation Ribbon, and Three Bronze Stars.

Avid sportsman: played Basketball while a Marine, Baseball for Air Force. He coached while stationed at various bases: Baseball, football, basketball; the latter while being stationed at Fairford AFB, England; taking the UK Championship. Bill had been an avid golfer most of his life.

He also found time between "taking the well in, bringing the wounded or fatalities out," to coach baseball to Vietnamese orphans.

Widowed after 47 years to Marie Rita Hodge, was also preceded in death by son, Eric W Hodge.

Bill leaves behind: Wife of 17 years, Gail Hodge; Daughter, Paula Mae Johnson; Granddaughters, Kari M Atencio and Kelli J Colaco. Great-grandchildren: Alyssa, Gasper, David and Lauryn Atencio; Lucia and Imogen Colaco. He was stepfather to Mitch Thomason, Tanna Crooks and to her children (the only grandfather they ever knew) Kenneth, Kelsey, and Elizabeth.

Bill will be sorely missed for his presence was bigger than life.

He taught his daughter and her family the meaning of country, flag, and honor.

He knew "Freedom isn't Free." He knew it and fought to keep it that way.

His Military Memorial for friends and family, will take place at Miramar Naval Cemetery, San Diego, CA, at 9:30 AM on November 12, 2018. In Lieu of flowers, please send donations to a veterans' organization of your choice, in his name.

Later that day his immediate family will take a boat tour of San Diego Harbor where his ashes will be dispersed as per his wishes. He never swam in the ocean after dismantling mines off the shores of Iwo Jima, Saipan, and Okinawa. His daughter asked, "Why would you want to be laid to rest off the Pacific?"

He answered, "Because that's where I became a man." (he was 16)