Career
He was awarded the medal posthumously for holding a Viet Congress prisoner with a live grenade, taking the brunt of the blast rather than allowing the prisoner to reach several of his commanders. Born on May 12, 1924, in Ramsey, New Jersey, Hosking joined the Army from Fort Dix in 1944. He served in Vietnam as a sergeant first class in Company A of the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces Regiment.
On March 21, 1967, he was working as an advisor to a Civilian Irregular Defense Group battalion in Đôn Luân district, Phuoc Long Province, when a Viet Congress sniper was captured.
As Hosking prepared to transport the prisoner to base camp, the man grabbed a hand grenade from Hosking"s belt, armed it, and ran towards the 4-man company command group. Hosking tackled the prisoner and held him to the ground, using the prisoner"s body and his own to shield others from the grenade blast.
Both he and the Viet Congress prisoner were killed in the ensuing explosion. Hosking was buried at Valleau Cemetery in Ridgewood, New Jersey.
Hosking Way, a road off of Darlington Avenue in Ramsey, is named in his honor.