HOFFMAN, DAVID WESLEY

Name: David Wesley Hoffman
Rank/Branch: O4/United States Navy, pilot
Unit: ATKCARAIRWG 15
Date of Birth: 18 March 1941
Home City of Record: Philadelphia PA
Date of Loss: 30 December 1971
Country of Loss: North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 184500 North 1055000 East
Status (in 1973): Returnee
Category:
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: F4
Missions: 205
Other Personnel in Incident:Norris Charles, returnee

Source: Compiled by P.O.W. NETWORK from one or more of the following: raw
data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence with POW/MIA
families, published sources, interviews.

REMARKS: 730328 RELEASED BY DRV

SOURCE: WE CAME HOME copyright 1977
Captain and Mrs. Frederic A Wyatt (USNR Ret), Barbara Powers Wyatt, Editor
P.O.W. Publications, 10250 Moorpark St., Toluca Lake, CA 91602
Text is reproduced as found in the original publication (including date and
spelling errors).
UPDATE - 09/95 by the P.O.W. NETWORK, Skidmore, MO

DAVID W. HOFFMAN
Lieutenant Commander- United States Navy
Shot Down: December 30, 1971
Released: March 28, 1973

David Wesley Hoffman was born 18 March, 1941 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
He attended St. Peters Choir School, an Episcopal boys school, and
Germantown Friends School, where he graduated in 1958. Both schools were
heavily oriented towards music, and he received a strong grounding in choral
music, including numerous appearances with the Philadelphia Orchestra, a
European concert tour, and many television appearances.

He entered the U. S. Naval Academy and graduated in 1962. While at the
academy he was active in choral groups, and produced and directed several
original musical comedies. He entered flight training directly after
graduation and upon designation as a Naval Aviator in December 1963 was
assigned as an instructor in the Basic Training Command. In 1965 he was
assigned to VF-96, flying the F-4, and completed two combat cruises to
Vietnam aboard the USS Enterprise. He then reported to VF-121 for shore
duty, and from there was assigned to the Naval Postgraduate School at
Monterey, California where he obtained a Master's degree in Operations
Research. On completion of his studies at Monterey in 1971 he was assigned
to CVW-15 staff as the Landing Signal Officer. He was shot down and captured
on the 30th of December 1971.

Military decorations include: Distinguished Flying Cross,14 Air Medals,
Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, as well as
the normal campaign ribbons and devices.

Lieutenant Commander Hoffman is married to the former Mary Burkhardt of
Mundelein, Illinois, and they have one son, David.

My message is simply: "A long hard struggle is finally over; it is most
important that we learn from the experiences of the last decade, and that we
continue to fight for freedom and truth wherever and whenever it is
threatened. A vocal minority should never be permitted to cover up the basic
truths with half truths and innuendo. Continue to seek out the truth, and
keep the spirit of unity, which makes this country great, moving and
growing. God bless you all."

December 1996
David Hoffman retired from the United States Navy as a Captain. He and his
wife "MJ" reside in Maryland.

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