Elmer Hugo "Hook" Almquist Jr. was born in Louisville, Kentucky, May 17, 1919 to Elmer Hugo Almquist (1893-1939) and Victoria Fredonia Williams Almquist (1895-1973). He graduated from Auburn University with a bachelor's of science in Mechanical Engineering in May 1940 and immediately entered the army as a second lieutenant in the Field Artillery Reserve. During World War II, he served in the Pacific Theater with the 6th Field Artillery Battalion in the 37th Infantry Division. By the end of the war, he rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and was Battalion Commander of the 135th Field Artillery Battalion.

In 1947, Almquist married Dorothy Knight, with whom he had two daughters. He was promoted to Colonel in 1957. On May 1, 1964, Almquist was promoted to Brigadier General and assigned the Assistant Division Command for Support Operations of the 7th Infantry Division in Korea. He also served in the Vietnam War, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. Almquist retired from the military at the rank of Lieutenant General in 1975, and continued to work for many years as a consultant on force structure and nuclear defense issues. He died January 19, 2005.