GRAND RAPIDS, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — After 77 years, the body of a Grand Rapids soldier has finally come home.
According to MLive, the remains of Private First Class Donald Hofman arrived at Gerald R. Ford International Airport via escort by a military honor guard on Friday, September.
Hofman served in Europe during World War II, and was a member of Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 157th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division.
The 19-year-old went missing in action in January 1945 near Reipertswiller, France when German forces surrounded the five companies of his infantry regiment while they were attempting to secure several villages along the French boarder with Germany. It was then that Hofman and the rest of his team came under intense enemy fire which left them isolated and entirely cut off from support.
Until now, Hofman had been buried in Ardennes American Cemetery in Belguim. His body was exhumed in July of last year, and was finally identified earlier this summer.
A graveside service with military honors will be held for Hofman at 1 p.m. Saturday, October 8, at Winchester Cemetery in Byron Township.
