Communities rally behind injured Crescenta Valley High graduate, former Navy SEAL

A graduate of Crescenta Valley High School who went on to become a Navy SEAL, is now recovering from a severe injury to his spine and three broken vertebrae after he escorted a patron from a bar, while working as a bouncer in Spokane, Wash.

Jason Hogan, 32, was working at the Globe Bar & Restaurant last Friday when a patron began aggravating the staff, according to James Fountain, co-owner of the restaurant.

“He was being a general nuisance to everybody. He was causing problems [for the] staff,” Fountain said, adding that the customer spat in the face of a server.

After Hogan escorted him out of the bar, Hogan reportedly turned around to walk back inside the restaurant when the patron charged at him from behind.

The patron then swung a punch at Hogan, who was able to duck under it, Fountain said. However, as Hogan attempted to restrain the man, both men fell to the ground.

“He landed wrong,” Fountain said.

Now, Fountain said Hogan is unable to walk, although doctors are optimistic he will walk again.

Still, he said, “We don’t know how much of his movement he’s going to regain. It’s definitely life changing for him.”

Fellow Crescenta Valley graduate and friend Jason Padula said Hogan currently grows exhausted doing slight body movements. While he’s able to lift his right arm almost to his shoulder, he has no control of his fingers or hands, and can’t move the left side of his body.

Supporters have initiated a crowdfunding effort, hoping to raise $100,000 to help pay for Hogan’s medical expenses and future physical therapy costs.

As of Thursday afternoon, their link on the GoFundMe site, www.gofundme.com/y47f2cs, had been shared over 4,000 times on social media with more than 570 people raising nearly $40,000 in three days.

Padula played football with Hogan at Crescenta Valley, and is one of many former classmates to have spread the word on social media about Hogan, whom he described as a selfless friend.

“He’s always looking out for other people,” Padula said.

Fellow former football teammate Scott Carpenter said Hogan played football at the community-college level after graduating high school, and then decided to join the military.

While in the Navy, Hogan earned a Commendation of Valor for sustained acts of heroism and meritorious service and two Combat Action ribbons.

He was deployed twice to Iraq and was part of the U.S. military’s initial push through Fallujah and Ramadi. He fought alongside Marc Lee, the first Navy SEAL who was killed in Iraq, and Chris Kyle, whose story was made into the Clint Eastwood-directed film “American Sniper” last year, according to Hogan’s friend Ryan Bates.

“He really did feel a calling. He felt it was part of his duty,” Carpenter said. “He was totally proud of what he was doing. We’re so proud of him as well.”

Longtime friend Misty Carone, also a Crescenta Valley High graduate, said Hogan would never turn away from a friend in need.

“This is why I’m beyond grateful over the outpouring of support that he’s been receiving from his hometown community, friends and family, his Navy SEAL teammates and even strangers,” she said.

Carpenter is also impressed with the donations local residents have made to Hogan’s recovery fund.

“It’s been awesome to see a lot of teachers and coaches post [online] about it. I’ve seen a ton of my former teammates and classmates donate on the site as well,” he said.

After spending about eight years in the Navy, Hogan relocated to Spokane last September, Carpenter said.

He recently became interested in working as a private security guard and had planned to train for a job last weekend when the gig fell through. Instead, he worked at the restaurant Friday night, Fountain said.

Since Hogan suffered his injuries, Spokane residents have rallied around him.

“Everybody in town already knows about it. Everywhere you look, anybody you know, everyone’s trying to help out,” Fountain said.