Richard Appel Hoe was born the 2nd son of Garnet and Gladys Hoe in Batavia Genesee County New York in 1924. He attended LeRoy High school New York, where he was keen on sports – playing Football, Baseball, Golf, involved in track events, a gym exhibition, and the promotion of inter-class athletics. Richard was also keen on one particular girl at school – a love affair that would last until his death.
With the outbreak of WW2 Richard A Hoe entered the Navy on 11 December 1942 aged 18.
From his service records he was was found on 1 November 1945 on-board the submarine SS-302 ‘Sabalo’. Primarily a training vessel, this was refitted and saw action at pearl harbour. On the 1 September 1946 Richard is on-board the US submarine Bang SS-385. Bang was a Balao class diesel/electric submarine. Bang received awards for her service during WW2 and is credited with sinking 8 Japanese merchant ships. This is her insignia badge. SS Bang was eventually sold on to the Spanish.
Richard also served on board the SS-180 ‘Pollack’, a porpoise class submarine. She was struck twice, in October 1945, and in October 1946. Pollack had a top surface speed of 19.25 knots, a range of 11.000 nautical miles, and carried 6 x 533mm torpedo guns. she was decommissioned on 21st September 1945 and sold for scrap after having received 10 battle stars for service during WW2
Richard finished his education after the war – attending Stamford University California. Richard found it difficult to talk about the horrors of war, just wanting a ‘peaceful life’. Richard married his childhood sweetheart Gloria Munt on 23 February 1952

Richard died in Fresno California at the age of 88, and is sadly missed by family