Herman Hoggenmiller is shown in October 1956 while he worked for Boeing-Vertol Helicopters. Hoggenmiller was a Navy veteran during World War II and the Korean War who spent 36 years working on CH-47 Chinooks. (Courtesy photo)
By Jeanine Mezei
Mountaineer staff
Sometimes it’s the small things that make a person light up with excitement and usher joy into their day.
For Herman “Happy” Hoggenmiller, it was the sound of CH-47 Chinooks flying overhead.
“Every time he heard a Chinook fly by he would get all happy and perk up,” said Capt. Christian Ballester, a Chinook pilot and commander of Company B, 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division.
A Navy veteran who served during World War II and the Korean War, Hoggenmiller passed away Feb. 20, 2016, at the age of 88. He dedicated 36 years as a flight test mechanic for Boeing-Vertol Helicopters in its Chinook program.
“He was on the end of the production line making sure everything was safe and sound before they did the first flight tests on the new Chinooks,” said Eric Hoggenmiller, Herman’s son. “But also they repaired them during Vietnam and the early Gulf War.”
Herman was laid to rest Feb. 29, 2016, in Colorado Springs surrounded by family and friends, who celebrated his life with the sound of a Chinook flying nearby, thanks to Ballester and his crew.
“We flew the flag for him in his honor last week,” Ballester said. “It was flown over town while we were headed north for training and we flew near the funeral site so they could hear the helicopter.”
The family presented a letter of appreciation to the unit for its support March 11, 2016, at Founders Field and also gave historical photos of Herman’s time at Boeing to the unit to display.
Herman retired in 1991 and settled in Colorado Springs with his wife of 57 years, Ilse, where they remained close to two of their three children, Eric and Edie, who help care for their mother.
Ilse was released from the hospital just in time Friday to receive the flag flown in Herman’s honor and was happy to see a Chinook up close again.
His children reminisced about seeing the same type of Chinook during family days at Boeing with their father.
“They were extremely grateful to the Army and 4th CAB for just being able to honor Mr. Hoggenmiller and his service to not only honor the country but in the Chinook community,” said Ballester.