Lyle H. Hoffmann


Serial Number 37669919
Enlisted Camp Dodge May 4, 1943


Lyle was inducted into the Army May 4, 1943, at Camp Dodge, Des Moines, Iowa. He completed basic training at Camp Callan, La Jolla, California. He was then assigned to Anti-Aircraft Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, where he was promoted to Corporal. After a year at Camp Callan, he was temporarily transferred to Fort Bliss, Texas, and then Camp Davis, North Carolina. Volunteering for infantry officers' training, he was transferred to Fort Benning, Georgia, and upon successful completion of the Officer Candidate Course was commissioned a Second Lieutenant on December 12, 1944. Lt. Hoffmann then reported for duty December 24, 1944, at Fort Hood, Texas.

In April 1945, he was shipped overseas to the Philippine Islands joining Company I of the 19th Infantry as a platoon leader involved with intermittent encounters with Japanese troops on Leyte and Mindanao Islands. After the Japanese surrender in August 1945, the 19th Infantry was assigned to Kochi, Shikoku, Japan. There he was promoted to 1st Lieutenant and Company I Executive Officer. After a year of occupation duty, he was separated from service in August 1946 at Fort Sheridan, Chicago, Illinois.


Council Bluffs Nonpareil Council Bluffs, November 16, 1943
Home on Furlough

Lyle Hoffmann, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Hoffmann, an instructor in mathematics in the Coast Artillery at Camp Callen, California, is spending a furlough at home.

On West Coast
Pvt. Reese Manor writes he is now out in California where he sees Pvt. Kenny Strom every now and then.
Lyle Hoffman of Manning is a member of his squad. Most of the fellows in his barracks, he says, are from Texas although there are some from Mississippi, Alabama and Pennsylvania.
His address is Pvt. Reese L. Manor, Batt B, 53d Tr Bn., Bldg 917, Camp Callan, California
Coon Rapids Enterprise, June 4, 1943


Manning Monitor article ------ 1944

Lyle H. Hoffmann Commissioned
Fort Benning, Ga. Lyle H. Hoffmann of Manning was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Army of the United States on Dec. 12, upon successful completion of the Officer Candidate Course at the Infantry School at Fort Benning. Lieut. Hoffmann is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Hoffmann of 311 Ann street, here.

The new lieutenant was inducted into the Army on May 4, 1943, and served with the Hqs. & Hqs. Btry., AARTC before going to officer candidate school four months ago. He held the rank of corporal before being commissioned.

In Memory of Lyle H. Hoffmann
A memorial service to celebrate the life of Lyle H. Hoffmann was held at Westminster Presbyterian Church at 11:00 am on Saturday, May 12, with lunch and fellowship following. A private burial took place on Friday, May 11, at Iowa Veterans Cemetery, Van Meter, Iowa.

The family wishes to express our gratitude to the physicians and nurses in the Critical Care Unit at Iowa Methodist Hospital for their outstanding and compassionate care for Lyle and his family.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Westminster Presbyterian Church Foundation.

Lyle H. Hoffmann died May 7, 2012, at Iowa Methodist Hospital of complications following surgery. He was a man of deep faith, who found great joy in caring for his family and serving others.

Lyle, son of Harry & Gertrude (Grantz) Hoffmann, was born July 29, 1923, in Manning, Iowa, and graduated from Manning High School in 1941. He attended the University of Iowa for two years and was inducted into the U.S. Army in 1943. He completed OCS and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in 1944. He served as a platoon leader on Leyte and Mindanao Islands in the Philippines and then in occupied Japan, where he was promoted to 1st Lieutenant and Company I Executive Officer.

Following service, he returned to the University of Iowa, where he was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity.

After graduation, he joined The Bankers Life Company (Principal) in the accounting area. In 1969, he was named the company's first Internal Auditor and an officer in the company, a position he held until retirement in 1985.

Lyle was a charter member, and served as president of, the Iowa Chapter of Certified Internal Auditors.

He served as treasurer of the board of Calvin Community, and also as treasurer for the local Habitat for Humanity affiliate and the Roosevelt High School Band Boosters. After retirement, he served as a volunteer tax aide.

Lyle was a 50 year member and ordained elder of Westminster Presbyterian Church and served on many church and presbytery committees.

He also retained membership in the Manning Masonic Lodge for over 50 years.

Lyle is survived by his wife, Gloria; son, David (Lisa) of Medinah, Illinois; daughter, Anne Hoover (Scott) of Annapolis, Maryland; four grandchildren: Hannah, Emily and Adam Hoffmann and Riley Hoover; his brother, Burton Hoffmann, of Hawthorne, New York; and cousin, Dean Hoffmann, of Manning, Iowa.