Saw Military as ‘Challenge’ : Marine Who Died on Run Was Avid Athlete

A 24-year-old Marine who died Wednesday during a physical fitness test in El Toro was an avid runner, swimmer and cyclist who saw the Marine Corps as a challenge, his parents said.

Charles and Sharon Hoaglund said Thursday they were stunned that their son, Cpl. John E. Hoaglund of East Moline, Ill., had collapsed during a 3-mile run that was part of a physical fitness test at the Marine Corps Air Station in El Toro.

Autopsy results were pending, but the Hoaglunds said they were told that investigators suspect Hoaglund may have died of a heart attack.

“He’s always been quite healthy. This is certainly a shock,” Charles Hoaglund said from East Moline in a telephone interview.

Not Blaming Military

Charles Hoaglund said the only history of heart problems in his family was his mother, who died of a heart attack at 74.

Hoaglund, who enlisted in the Marines in 1984, had no history of health problems, his parents said.

Charles Hoaglund, who served in the Navy for a short time, does not blame anyone for his son’s death.

“I don’t have a vendetta against the government,” Hoaglund said. “I just think it’s something that happens. I don’t think (the Marines) are over-pushing them. Perhaps in some cases they do. Our son indicated that boot camp, well, I’m sure is never any fun, because they come straight off the streets. But it didn’t hurt him any. He kind of enjoyed the challenge.”

John Hoaglund visited his family in Illinois two weeks ago for the wedding of his cousin who is in the Air Force.

Was “Full of Life”

“We had a great time,” said Sharon Hoaglund, John’s mother. “He was full of life. He just couldn’t get enough out of each day. He wasn’t afraid of death--he was ready.”

She said her son, a former Eagle Scout, enjoyed working with Boy Scouts and belonged to a church group.

He was on his high school swim team, his community college long-distance swim team, and had recently competed in 7-kilometer races.

“He rode his bicycle practically everywhere, all the time,” Charles Hoaglund said. “He breezed through most of the (Marine) training. He never had a problem with that. In fact, he kind of enjoyed that he could excel at it.”

Hoaglund had been stationed at the El Toro base since November and was trained in field avionics--electronics for aviation.

He was the second Marine in three months to die during or after the fitness test at the El Toro air station.

On May 11, Sgt. Joseph Serna died of a heart attack after completing the 3-mile run, according to the autopsy report.

“The physical test is what every Marine does until the age of 45,” Maj. Stan Gould said Thursday.

Semiannual Fitness Test

The physical fitness test is given to Marines semiannually. It includes the 3-mile run, pullups and sit-ups. A maximum of 300 points are given if the Marine can complete the 3-mile run in 18 minutes, do 80 sit-ups in two minutes and do 20 pullups.

The 3-mile run is done on a dirt pathway on one edge of the airfield, Gould said.

“You’re within vision (of others) and no more than a mile-and-a-half from the start. You can see people coming and going, and people ahead of you and people behind you,” Gould said.

Hoaglund was a half-mile from the finish when he collapsed. Other Marines who were being tested at the time found him along the running path.

Services for Hoaglund will be held in Illinois.