Influenza claimed yet another victim, First Lieutenant Earl Malcolm Hoisington, on November 10th, 1918. While recovering from a hunting accident, influenza settled in his lungs and developed into double pneumonia. Earl died at Rockwell Field, near San Diego, California. To honor his excellence in fulfilling his duties, the posthumous rank of captain was conferred upon him. He attended the Second Officers’ Training Camp at the Presidio in August, 1917. Earl was commissioned a first lieutenant and ordered to Camp Lewis following his training. He later transferred to the aviation corps, being one of the few who made this change without a demotion in rank. After ground work training at Austin, Texas, Earl undertook flight work at Rockwell, Otay Mesa and Oneonta Fields. In July, 1918, he was made chief instructor of aerial gunnery, and in that capacity had supervision over four flying fields.
The older of two children born to Phillip Burlingham Hoisington and Eva Elizabeth Weger, Earl was a native of Spokane. He was a member of the class of 1918, studying business administration at the University of Washington. Earl was an active supporter of the YMCA and a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity. Earl was working as a bookkeeper in Wallace, Idaho, at the time he registered for the draft. In 1925, a portion of Parkwater Field (now Felts Fields) in Spokane was designated headquarters for the 116th Observation Squadron of the Washington Air National Guard and named Camp Earl Hoisington (also known as Earl Hoisington Field). Earl is buried at Spokane’s Moran Cemetery along with other members of the Hoisington family. (bit.ly/uw_hoisington)