Hoffmann, Martin 1915-1945

HOFFMANN

Posted By: Doris Hoffman, Volunteer (email)
Date: 12/23/2010 at 14:56:34

Martin Hoffmann Missing In Action

Member Of General Patton's Third Army

Mr. and Mrs. T. F. Hoffmann of Johnson Township have received word from the war department that their son, Pfc. Martin Hoffmann, is missing in action in Luxembourg since January 14. Pfc. Hoffmann was a jeep driver with the field artillery in General Patton's Third army, 90th Division. He had been in the service three years and went overseas one year ago.
Mr. and Mrs. Hoffmann are the

Parents of three other sons in the Service, Cpl, Albert stationed in Service, Cpl. Albert, stationed in India; Sgt. George, in the south Pacific and Cpl. Louis; who is still stationed
in the states. Since receiving the telegram last week. Mr. and Mrs. Hoffmann have received word from their son’s commanding officer verifying the statement in the telegram.

Mr. and Mrs. T. F. Hoffmann of Johnson township received word from the war department on Thursday that their son, Pfc. Martin Hoffman, was killed in action in Germany on January 14.

Le Mars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
Friday, February 16, 1945
Le Mars, Iowa
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FOUR LE MARS MEN KILLED IN MILITARY SERVICE LAST WEEK 
Billy Bradley, Walter Ruden, Gordon Phipps, Martin Hoffman

Martin Hoffman Killed

Mr. and Mrs. T. F. Hoffmann of Johnson township received word from the War Department on Thursday that their son, Pfc. Martin Hoffmann, was killed in action in Germany on January 14.

The parents had been notified in February that their son was missing in action in Luxembourg since January 14 and heard nothing further until the word received on Thursday. Pfc. Hoffmann was a jeep driver with the field artillery in General Patton's Third army, 90th Division. He had been in the service three years and went overseas more than a year ago.

Mr. and Mrs. Hoffmann are the parents of three other sons in the service, Cpl. Albert in India, Sgt. George in the South Pacific and Cpl. Louis, still in the states.

Le Mars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
Friday, April 27, 1945
Le Mars, Iowa
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PVT. MARTIN HOFFMANN DIES
Son of Merrill Residents Killed in Luxembourg

Pvt. Martin Hoffmann , 29, who was employed in Sioux City before he entered service, was killed in action in Luxembourg January 14, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Theodore F. Hoffmann of Merrill, were informed Thursday by a telegram from the War Department. Pvt. Hoffmann in February was reported missing in action.

The oldest of six sons, Pvt. Hoffmann was born September 15, 1915, and was reared on his parents farm on the Perry Creek Road. He attended St. Joseph’s grade school in LeMars, and was graduated from Liberty high school in 1933. Before his service in the army, he was employed at St. Joseph’s hospital in Sioux City.

He took most of his military training at Camp Barkeley, Tex., serving in the infantry for a year. He was transferred to the 344th field artillery, and for a time served as assistant battery clerk. His unit went to England in March, 1944, and shortly after D-day, landed in France. After arriving in France, Pvt. Hoffmann was a jeep driver.

He wrote his parents December 30 that he had been transferred back to the infantry. His relatives believe that he took part in one of Gen. Patton’s offensives.

He is survived by his parents and five brothers, three of whom are in the service overseas. They: Cpl. Albert T. Hoffmann, with the air forces in India; Rev. E. D. Hoffmann of St. Joseph’s parish, Sioux City; Cpl. Louis Hoffmann, with an armored force in Germany; Sgt. George H. Hoffmann, with a maintenance division on Leyte in the Philippines, and Peter Hoffmann, at home near Merrill.

Source: The Sioux City Journal, April 27, 1945
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Memorial services for Private Martin Hoffmann will be held on Wednesday morning at 1 o'clock, at St. Joseph's church at Ellendale. The American Legion will take part. Celebrant of the solemn requiem high mass will be Fr. Edward Hoffmann, assistant in St. Joseph's Parish in Sioux City, and Fr. Zeno Reising of Merrill and Fr. Frank Ureteman of Leeds will likewise take part. Fr. Gerald Kelly, assistant at the Immaculate Conception parish in Sioux City, will be master of ceremonies.

Le Mars Globe Post
Monday, April 30, 1945
Le Mars, Iowa