Roy Arnold Hopen

Lieutenant Junior Grade, U.S. Navy
Serial: O-306202

Entered the Service from: New Jersey
Died: November 14, 1945
Buried at: Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington, Virginia

Lieutenant Junior Grade Roy Arnold Hopen was born on July 4, 1922 to Jens Nicoli Hopen and his wife, the former Raghnild Flornes. The Hopens had immigrated to America from Norway, in 1910 and 1913 respectively, and first settled in Washington State. Jens Hopen supported his family working as a house carpenter. Three children, Almar (Elmer), Mae, and John, were born in Washington before the Hopens moved to New Jersey. They first came to stay with Anton Hopen, who appears to have been a younger brother or cousin of Jens Hopen, at 216 Cypress Avenue in Woodlynne, New Jersey. Jens Hopen was then working as a ships carpenter in one of the many shipyards along the Camden waterfront. A daughter, Ellen, was born around 1920, followed by Roy, the youngest child. When the census was taken in April of 1930, the Hopens lived on Somerdale Road north of Chews Landing Road in Gloucester Township, New Jersey.

Roy Hopen graduated in 1940 from Haddonfield High School in southern New Jersey. He lettered in football and track, and his high school hurdles record stood for about 40 years. After high school, he attended Brown University prep school and was appointed as an alternate to attend Annapolis Military Academy. Instead of waiting, he joined the U.S. Naval Reserve.

On a flight out of Medford, Oregon, his F6F Hellcat fell out of formation due to unexpected developing inclement weather on November 14, 1945 over the Trinity Mountains, Trinity County, California. The crash was unable to be located immediately by the U.S. Navy. His father, Jens Hopen, a World War I veteran, subsequently engaged on his own 32-day search on horseback, but was unsuccessful. The plane and Roy’s remains were located on October 23, 1946 by a logger who knew the area well and was out hunting at the time. Lieutenant Junior Grade Roy Arnold Hopen was then able to be placed in Arlington National Cemetery. The crash site was located in 2008 by Jefferson Aviation Archaeology.

Lieutenant Hopen is recorded in the California Bureau of Vital Statistics’ Death Index as having died in Trinity County, California on November 14, 1945. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia on November 8, 1946.

Roy Hopen was survived by his parents and siblings, who remained in the Gloucester Township area. Jens Hopen passed in 1964, his wife ten years later. Older brothers Elmer and John died in 1983 and 1996. The Hopen family still has a presence in the area.