Korean War Legacy Project

Bertam “Bert” Hoffman

Bio

Bertam “Bert” Hoffman is a distinguished veteran of the Korean War who began his service when he was drafted into the United States military in 1952. Born and raised during a time of great change, Bert found himself at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, where he completed eight weeks of rigorous infantry training, followed by another eight weeks focused on heavy artillery. After a month-long voyage at sea, he was assigned to a station in Yokohama, Japan. Upon completing his service, Bert took a train to Tokyo but faced challenges returning to the United States due to a significant shortage of available transport planes. Fortunately, he managed to secure a seat on a transport plane headed home, though the flight was somber as it carried the remains of fallen soldiers. Bert’s journey included a brief stay at a U.S. Air Force base in Hawaii, where he had a moment to reflect before returning home. His experiences during the Korean War shaped his life and contributed to a rich legacy of service.

Video Clips

Service Training

Bertam Hoffman reflects on his early experiences after being drafted into the United States military in 1952. He recalls spending eight weeks at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, where he underwent infantry training. After completing this training, he received an additional eight weeks of heavy artillery training. He remembers a particular moment during a roll call when the commanding officers did not have his orders.

Tags: Basic training,Home front,Weapons

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Orders to Station in Japan

Bertam Hoffman remembers arriving in Yokohama, Japan, after a month-long voyage at sea. He explains that a mix-up with his orders led to his assignment in Japan. He recalls participating in maneuvers where planes would fly overhead on their way to Korea.

Tags: Pride

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Being Transported Home

Bertam Hoffman recalls taking a train to Tokyo, Japan, at the end of his service. He remembers that there was a significant shortage of planes returning to the United States, but he was fortunate enough to secure a ride on a transport plane that was carrying the bodies of fallen soldiers. He recollects staying at a U.S. Air Force base in Hawaii for a few weeks because the transport plane needed to lighten its load for the journey home.

Tags: Home front,Rest and Relaxation (R&R)

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