Hoag joined the United States Navy at the beginning of the Second World War . He spent the early years of the war organizing pre-flight schools at the University of Georgia , the University of North Carolina , and the University of Iowa . A few years into the war he requested sea duty . By the end of the 1940s Hoag had been involved in six Pacific invasions and had achieved the rank of lieutenant commander . For his wartime service Hoag was awarded the Purple Heart , Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal , Philippine Independence Medal , and Victory Medal . After the war he remained in the United States Army Reserve util reaching the rank of lieutenant colonel , at which point he retired
Victory Medal
World War II Victory Medal (United States)
Merritt Eldred Hoag