RI RI - William Hokanson, 44, & William Hokanson Jr, 19, 25 Mar 1990 - Lost at sea

[KateB]

Lost in the Waves: The search for missing mariners

By Capt. W. Russell Webster
Posted Nov. 23, 2014 @ 2:01 am
It was a necessary message to receive, but dreadful all the same.
In early August 2014, the Rhode Island Medical Examiner’s office reached out to Ellen (Hokanson) Ouellette through Facebook to ask for family DNA that could help identify her missing son, Billy. It was the third time that the ME’s office had contacted Ouellette to assist with an identification of human remains since her son, Billy, 19, and ex-husband “Hokey” Hokanson, 44, Billy’s father, had gone missing in a terrible sea tragedy off Martha’s Vineyard March 25, 1990.
According to Ouellette, “Every morning for the past 24 years I never knew if it would be the day I got another call saying they had found my son's remains … and possibly another disappointment. When I didn't get a call, all I would say was maybe ‘tomorrow.'" When asked about the latest inquiry from the ME’s office, Ouellette remarked, "I can't do this again, what am I going to do, it was just as hard to absorb (this time) as it was the other two times. Will he finally be coming home?"

much more at link.

Hokey and Billy Hokanson

This article is written by the author of The Sol E Mar Tragedy Off Martha's Vineyard, (Disaster) published this year and available in ebook or paperback.
Both men have no photo NamUs listings.
William "Hokey" Hokanson, Sr. - https://www.findthemissing.org/en/cases/25525
William "Billy" Hokanson, Jr. - https://www.findthemissing.org/en/cases/25526

 

[KateB]

Both NamUs listings have had photos added.

William "Billy" Hokanson, Jr. - https://www.findthemissing.org/en/cases/25526

William "Hokey" Hokanson, Sr. - https://www.findthemissing.org/en/cases/25525

They've been gone 25 years today.

 

[CastlesBurning]

It's now been over 30 years.

William Hokanson Sr. -- Lost Fishermen From the Port of New Bedford.

William Hokanson Jr. -- Lost Fishermen From the Port of New Bedford.

 

[Pennysmom2]

Nov 23, 2014

Lost in the Waves: The search for missing mariners

It was a necessary message to receive, but dreadful all the same. In early August 2014, the Rhode Island Medical Examiner’s office reached out to Ellen (Hokanson) Ouellette through Facebook to ask …

www.southcoasttoday.com

Jan 22, 2015

DNA may hold key to identify those 'lost at sea'

In 1990, the U.S. Coast Guard rescued 4,407 people nationwide. On March 25, 1990, however, William Hokanson Sr. and his 19-year-old son William Hokanson Jr. went down off Martha’s Vineyard with the e…

www.capecodtimes.com

5509DMRI - William Hokanson, Jr.

3: Billy with father ( MP # 25525)

Circumstances of Disappearance​

William"Hokey" Hokanson Sr ( MP # 25525) went out on a fishing expedition with his son William "Billy" Hokanson Jr on their vessel the "Sol-e-Mar" and left out of Fairhaven, MA. On March 25th, 1990 the United States Coast Guard received a 4 second distress call from Billy Hokanson, and on March 30th, 1990 the Coast Guard was notified that the "Sol-e-Mar" was two days overdue. After three days the Coast Guard suspended its search. However, the "Sol-e-Mar" was found later in April of 1990 by a crew of volunteer on the "R/V Marlin" vessel. Despite this search, no bodies were ever recovered. William Hokanson Sr and Jr and both still missing at sea.