Paul Harold Hoffman

Paul Harold Hoffman August 3, 1922 Clinton, Iowa. Paul graduated from Lyons High School, Class of 1942 in Clinton, Iowa. His class motto was “What we are to be: we are becoming.” Paul enlisted in the United States Army Air Corp soon after graduation in 1943. He attended basic training in St. Petersburg, Florida, and was sent to a special operating training unit outside of St. Louis, MO. He then transferred to the Madison WI. Radio Operations school where he learned Morse Code. Graduating in 1943, Paul was sent to an airbase in Sacramento, CA. from June 1943 – February 1944. As a radio operator, Paul remained in active duty from January 19, 1943 until February 1946. He was home based in New Guinea and was stationed in Biak, which is off the Northern coast. Paul operated radios both on ground and airborne in planes such as the C-46 and C-47. He became familiar with the natives and learned a little bit of their language. His most outstanding memory was when he trekked about two miles in the jungle with temperatures hovering around 110-120 degrees to see the cannibal man. Paul did not linger long……. Medals received: Good Conduct American Campaign Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Meritorious Unit Award WWII Victory Medal During his Madison, WI training position he ventured to Beaver Dam, WI where he met the love of his life, Viola Winter. They married on July 18, 1944 at St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church, Beaver Dam, WI with the Reverend L.C. Kirst officiating. Paul and Viola set up house in the Beaver Dam area once Dad became a civilian. He worked several jobs, one of which was in a steel factory. Then, he decided to make a career change and studied Gregg shorthand for two years in Chicago, IL. They named their second son Greg dropping one g in the spelling. Times were hard after the Second World War ended. Dad told me once that he sent Mom most of his money and all he could afford to eat was sardines. He collapsed one day and the doctor advised Dad to nourish himself by spending what little money he had to drink milk. Until his dying day, Dad drank milk and really loved chocolate milk! Paul was offered a job in Goliad, TX to be a Court Stenographer for Judge Greene. It was a tough choice to move so far from the upper Midwest, but times were hard. This was a good paying job! Dad borrowed a meager amount of money from his father-in-law and headed to Texas. He did well and was able to have the love of his life Viola, and his two sons, Nathan Paul and Greg David become a family unit. Then Candace Sue arrives in 1955 and comes home to the house on South Jefferson Street, Goliad, TX, and soon after, the addition to the house is built, a Master Bedroom. We are complete. Paul worked for five counties in TX and Mom was the “June Cleaver.” We are a family. Paul stretched our family budget to include private pilot lessons. He succeeded and later in life owned an airplane. We took family camping trips. Dad also took his vacation every year to canoe the Minnesota lakes. In addition, he was an avid target and skeet shooter. He loved the outdoors so much because he was part Iroquois Indian from the Tuscarora Tribe. A husband, father, grandfather, uncle, great-grandfather and a really special man. My Daddy.