I was stationed at NAS Memphis for avionics training after boot camp during 1978-79 and remember seeing Hogan arrive there; he was brought-in ostensibly to team-up with Jerry Lawler during one of his feuds... or was it to challenge him, I forget exactly... Lawler switched from 'face to heel at least once each during the 13 months I was there, so it's hard to remember...
I also saw Hogan (with Classy Freddie Blassie) vs Andre the Giant at the Boston Garden while I was on leave, long before he became champion... A much, Much better match than WM3 was.