S/SGT Richard L. Hoffner 1938-1971

HOFFNER, KAHL, MCCLEARY, BLAKE

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 10/23/2016 at 14:06:12

7 October 1971 - The North Cedar Press

Last rites for S/SGT Richard L. Hoffner, 33, were held at St. John's United Church of Christ in Clarence Oct. 2.

According to news reports from the Killeen, Texas, Herald, SGT. Hoffner was found near death Sept. 22 in his car, parked near the American Legion hall in downtown Killeen. He was found with a gunshot wound in the head and another in each leg.

He died Sept. 28 in an army hospital at Ft. Hood, where he was stationed.

At the time, police said there did not appear to be any foul play involved. A .38 caliber revolver was found near the body, the police reports said.

Information about the case is scant, apparently because of the conflicts involved since he was found on city property, but died in a federal hospital.

An inquest to determine the cause of death will be conducted soon by a Texas justice of the peace, the Herald reported.

SGT. Hoffner was born Aug. 20, 1938, at Clarence and entered the service in 1956. He had 2 tours of duty in Vietnam from December, 1966, until July, 1967, and from May, 1970, to May, 1971. He had been assigned as a section chief of the 289th S and G Co. at Ft. Hood since Aug. 9, 1971.

He is survived by his wife, Luise, who arrived in Ft. Hood on the day of his death; 3 sons, Richard Jr., Marlin and Robert, Mt. Vernon; his mother, Mrs. John Kahl; 2 sisters, Mrs. Fred McCleary and Mrs. Martin Blake and his step-father, John Kahl and step-brother, Richard Kahl, all of Clarence.