Robert J. Hoffman was born on June 7, 1948, to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hoffman. His home of record is Ridgefield Park, NJ. The family had 6 sons serving in the Marines during Vietnam; George, Henry, Walter, Robert, Richard and Joseph. As a result, President Nixon wrote the family thanking them for their service and sacrifice. This letter was followed with another, when their sixth son, Joseph enlisted:

“I learned only recently that yours is the only family with five sons currently on active duty in any of the military services, an experience unprecedented in the United States Military Corps.

I am deeply impressed by this record.

As you may know, each day I receive reports which indicate the bravery of our servicemen and which make me realize even more the magnitude of our debt to them.

This certainly applies to your fine sons who individually and collectively have demonstrated the highest degree of loyalty and dedication. But just as proud as I am of them, I also want to commend you for imparting to them a deep sense of patriotism and a full understanding of the responsibilities of citizenship. As long as we have families such as the Hoffmans, I have not the slightest doubt that the liberty this nation has enjoyed for almost two hundred years will continue to be a birthright for future generations of Americans.

I wish to express to each of your sons my appreciation, as well as that of the entire country, for the contributions they are making to the cause of free men everywhere.”

He was drafted in to the US Army in March 1968, and attained the rank of Sergeant (SGT).

Hoffman contracted malaria during his service in Vietnam. While in the hospital, he fell and suffered a fatal head injury. He is listed as killed in action on June 3, 1969, after being in Vietnam for one year.

He is buried at George Washington Memorial Park in Paramus, NJ. He was the only son killed in action and was survived by his brothers, a number of whom succumbed to illnesses related to their Agent Orange exposure. The family remained in the Rumson area where Robert, Joseph and Richard served as Police Officers

Sources: Barbara Hoffman, Newspaper clippings and NJVVMF.
12/17/2024