Jim Hosack Sr.

POLAND — For Jim Hosack Sr., joining the Army was about continuing a family tradition dating back to the War of 1812.

“I was named after my father’s brother who died in World War II in the Italy invasion, earning a Bronze Star and Purple Heart for heroism. I wanted to honor my father and my uncle by continuing my uncle Pvt. James Alexander Hosack’s service to this nation,” Hosack said.

Hosack, now 61, joined the Army in September of his senior year of high school via the delayed entry program. He then went to Fort Jackson, S.C., for basic training.

And although he had an extensive 35-year military career, he said the highlight was being the White House nurse during the Bill Clinton administration. He was the first man to serve in the position, Hosack said.

He joined the United States Army working as a powerplant jet engine repairman, attaining the rank of specialist 4, from July 1978 to July 1982. From September 1982 to November 1987, he served in the Ohio Army National Guard as a military policeman, attaining the rank of sergeant, while attending nursing school at St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital.

Hosack was a medical surgical charge nurse at St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital for about 16 months before attending military officer training school in Newport, R.I.

He worked in various positions at the Naval Hospital in Corpus Christi, Texas, for about three years and then spent three years at the Naval Medical Center in Portsmouth, Va. He spent two years at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va., before becoming the White House nurse to President Bill Clinton in August 1996.

“I was honored to be selected as Navy Medicine’s first male White House nurse. I served two years in that role. My scope of responsibility was providing care for the President, first lady Hillary Clinton, Chelsea and Vice President Al Gore and his family. I was the White House Medical Unit liaison to the Secret Service members, Air Force One Nurse, and traveled all over the world with the principals,” Hosack said.

As a White House nurse, Hosack had many memorable experiences, including traveling with the first lady, Eunice Kennedy and five religious leaders from the United States to Calcutta, India, for Mother Teresa’s funeral.

“I remember sitting in the gym where Mother Teresa laid in state surrounded by wreaths of flowers and with the flag of India draped over her casket,” Hosack said.

That job also brought him close to some pivotal and influential figures. He recalled traveling to Durban, South Africa, and meeting the former South African president and anti-apartheid advocate, Nelson Mandela. Hosack also recalled his last overseas trip to Shanghai, China, where he rode in the presidential limousine from the hotel to the airport and returned on Air Force One. On his last day at the White House, Hosack’s family came to say goodbye to his staff.

“While in the medical unit, President Clinton saw my family there while on his way to a cabinet meeting in the Oval Office. He asked to take both of our boys, JT and Brennan, and he walked them to the Oval Office. He promised that they would be safe and then called my wife, Carrie, and I to follow him,” Hosack said.

“He sat in the back of the Oval Office and talked to them for 10 minutes about the boyhood dog he had, and he asked about their dog. He then brought them into the Oval Office and asked the White House photographer, a very good friend of mine, Ralph Alswang, to take pictures of all us in front of the Resolute Desk. The President always took time to meet with my family at events or in the White House.”

Hosack spent three years in various roles at the United States Naval Hospital in Okinawa, Japan. He graduated from Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas on June 7, 2002. He returned to Portsmouth, Va., where he spent several years before heading to Camp Pendleton, Calif., Colorado, Kuwait and Iraq.

For three years, Hosack worked at the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, followed by a return to Portsmouth in various roles and was at the Naval Clinic in Quantico, Va., just before retiring from the military in 2013.

He is now working as a COVID-19 Pandemic Incident Command Lead Liaison, a Security Systems Administrator and an Emergency Management Subject Matter Expert at Mercy Health Youngstown.

EDITOR’S NOTE: To suggest a veteran for this series, which runs through Veterans Day, email metro editor Marly Reichert at mreichert@tribtoday.com.

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James Hosack Sr.

AGE: 61

RESIDENCE: Poland

SERVICE BRANCH: U.S. Navy, January 1988 to May 2013; Ohio Army National Guard, September 1982 to November 1987; and Army, July 1978 to July 1982.

MILITARY HONORS: Army — Army Service Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Expert Badge M16 Rifle and Air Assault Badge; Army National Guard — Ohio Award of Merit Ribbon, Ohio Faithful Service Ribbon and Ohio Special Service Ribbon; Navy — Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (4), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Joint Meritorious Unit Award (2), National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Navy & Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon and Presidential Service Badge.

OCCUPATION: COVID-19 Pandemic Incident Command Lead Liaison, Security Systems Administrator and Emergency Management Subject Matter Expert for Mercy Health Youngstown

FAMILY: wife of 35 years, Carrie Hogan Hosack, four children, James Hosack, Jr. (wife Kari), Lt. Cdr. Brennan Hosack, U.S. Navy (wife Mariah), Patrick Hosack and Keira Hosack; and two grandsons, James Hosack III and Matthew Hosack