James E. Hoffman
CHRONOLOGY
From the Harrisburg Evening News, 17 December 1943:
Missing in Action
Three Central Pennsylvania men are among the 435 announced today by the War Department as missing in action. They are…. Staff Sergeant James E. Hoffman, son of Mrs. Emily F. Hoffman, Lykens… missing in the Southwest Pacific area.
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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 17 December 1943:
Missing in Pacific Area
Staff Sergeant James E. Hoffman, son of Mrs. Emily F. Hoffman, Lykens, R.D. 1… has been reported missing in action in the Southwest Pacific area, the War Department announced today….
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From the Harrisburg Evening News, 10 January 1944:
New Awards for Missing Fliers
Missing… Lykens airman… Staff Sergeant James E. Hoffman, son of Mr. and Mrs. James E. Hoffman, Lykens [has] been awarded [the] Oak Leaf Cluster, according to a War Department announcement today, listing decorations for more than 400 officers and enlisted men of the Thirteenth Army Air Forces in the South Pacific….
Sergeant Hoffman, missing in action 14 November 1943, was awarded a bronze Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air Medal. He won the Air Medal in May for a raid on Wake Island, 25 December 1942.
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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 10 January 1944:
Staff Sergeant James E. Hoffman, Lykens, [has] received a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air Medal for combat flights in the South Pacific area, the war Department said today.
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From the Harrisburg Evening News, 14 April 1944:
Missing Soldier Cited
LYKENS – The Oak Leaf Cluster has been awarded by Lieutenant General Millard F. Harmon, commanding United States Army Forces in the South Pacific Area, to James E. Hoffman, Staff Sergeant in the Air Corps, United States Army, for meritorious achievement while participating as assistant aerial engineer gunner.
Hoffman, who is reported missing, is a son of Mr. and Mrs. James Hoffman.
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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 3 May 1945:
MRS. EMMA R. LAUDENSLAGER
Mrs. Emma R. Laudenslager, widow of Edward Laudenslager, died Monday of a heart attack at her home, Wiconisco Township. Her daughter, Mrs. Emily Hoffman, died four months ago.
Surviving are two grandsons, James E. Hoffman, who has been missing in action since 14 November 1943, and John E. Hoffman, at home; one brother, James M. Wert, and a sister, Mrs. Mattie Enders, Philadelphia.
Services were held Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the residence. Burial was in the Wiconisco cemetery.
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From the Harrisburg Evening News, 2 July 1946:
With Staff Sergeant James E. Hoffman, late of Lykens, declared dead by the War Department, following his disappearance during a bombing mission in Southwest Pacific, letters of administration in his $5480 estate were issued to his father, James W. Hoffman, Lykens, R.D., who is sole beneficiary. Sergeant Hoffman, member of a crew of B-24 Liberator, was reported missing during a bombing mission on Bougainville, 14 November 1943.
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Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.
See also:
Cenotaph Location. Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Metro Manila, Philippines. James E. Hoffman was born 20 May 1920 in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, and presumably was lost at sea on 14 November 1943. See Findagrave #56767705 for Manila American Cemetery. See also Findagrave #113108566 for cenotaph at Calvary United Methodist Cemetery, Wiconisco, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. Both Findagrave Memorials have biographical sketches and further information on his military service and the circumstances of his death.
World War II – Lykens and Wiconisco Homeoming Celebration, 1946