Jeremiah Denton (1924–2014) was a United States Navy Rear Admiral and a U.S. Senator known for his extraordinary resilience as a prisoner of war (POW) during the Vietnam War. Born in 1924 and passing away in 2014, he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and served as a naval aviator. In 1965, his A-6 Intruder was shot down over North Vietnam, leading to seven years and seven months of captivity. Denton became a national hero for his defiance against his captors, most famously during a 1966 televised propaganda interview where he blinked the word “T-O-R-T-U-R-E” in Morse code, providing the first clear confirmation to U.S. Intelligence that American prisoners were being mistreated.
Following his release in 1973 and his retirement from the Navy as a Rear Admiral in 1977, Denton transitioned into a career in public service. In 1980, he was elected as a Republican to represent Alabama in the U.S. Senate, making history as the first Republican popularly elected to the Senate from that state since Reconstruction. During his tenure, he was a staunch conservative, focusing on national security and social issues. He authored the memoir When Hell Was in Session, which chronicled his harrowing experiences in North Vietnamese prison camps like the “Hanoi Hilton” and became a definitive account of the POW experience.
I was born on 6 August 1956 in San Francisco, California to Janet and (the late) Richard Hovis.
I grew up in Santa Monica, California where I attended elementary, junior high school, and high school (graduating in 1974), in addition to involvement in sports and recreation (Little League +, the Boy’s Club ++). Further, it was in elementary school – St. Augustine’s By-the -Sea Parish School that I found, and made the choice to truly journey with God.
I attended Arizona State University from 1974 to 1977 – seeking to become an architect, however, I was not accepted, and, as such, I graduated with a Liberal Arts degree.
Upon graduation from Arizona State University, I attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and studied City and Regional Planning at the Master’s level. I successfully completed one (1) year in a two (2) year program – I did not complete the Master’s degree in City and Regional Planning – due to personal reasons.
I returned to Santa Monica where I started (October 1979) my career as graphic designer with Exxon Company, USA. I spent five years with Exxon Company, USA.
While working with Exxon Company, USA I was accepted into architectural school – Sci-Arc in Southern California, however, I did not attend preferring to stay with Exxon..
In 1982 I married Laura Flosi and in April 1983 we had our one and only child – Lauren Alain Hovis – a gift from God.
We moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1984 from Los Angeles, where I went to work as a graphic designer with Kitchell CEM (from 1985 -1987).
From 1987 – 1995 I was an independent contractor, and a registered representative in mortgage finance, financial management, graphic design, and drafting.
Further, I attended the University of Phoenix and successfully obtained a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) in 1982.
I was also a member of the Scottsdale Jaycees, where I became very involved in community events and projects.
In 1994, I accepted a cartography position with the Defense Mapping Agency in Reston, Virginia. As such, I relocated from Phoenix to Reston.
In 1998, I was accepted and worked as a Visual Information Officer with the Central Intelligence Agency. In 2002, I worked as a Support Officer until my retirement (due to a need for shoulder surgery) in September 2018.
Away from my Federal Government service, I have been involved in various organizations and activities in Northern Virginia.
In November of 2011, I married Rebecca Ouellette in Santa Monica, California. I reside in San Tan Valley, AZ with my two hamster - Jess and Timothy, our fish, our lizard - RJ Lizard., and our cats - Pearl and Grey.
As to hobbies, I enjoy playing sports, attending sporting events, mentoring individuals from financial management to hamsters, building models, photography, travel, multimedia design, managing partner for RJ Hamster, and jazz – smooth jazz to a samba or a bossa nova.
Love and God Bless,
Peter – aka RJ Hamster Jo hi
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