Son of Charles Oliver Hoffman (1883-1939) and Martha E. Kahl (1898 Colorado -1971 California). Besides his parents, he had one sister, Charline and one brother, William "Billie".
Home of Record: 6131 Mesa Avenue, Los Angeles, California
Although born in Colorado he lived most of his life the Highland Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. He attended Garvanza Elementary School, Luther Burbank Junior High School and Benjamin Franklin High School.
Donald K. Hoffman enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps (S/N 281459) on 17 January 1940 in Los Angles, California. He was sent to MCRD, San Diego for Boot Camp. After completing his training, he was sent to Marine Barracks, Navy Yard, Mare Island, California where he embarked on 23 March 1940 via the U.S.S. HENDERSON bound for his Asiatic Station. The ship arrived at Shanghai, China on 01 May. Private Hoffman was assigned to Company B, First Battalion, Fourth Marines.
Muster Roll of Enlisted Men 01 May 1940 to 01 October 1941
Company B, First Battalion, Fourth Marines, Shanghai, China
Private/Private First Class Donald K. Hoffman. He was promoted to Private First Class on 13 November 1940. On 01 October 1941 he was assigned to Company D.
Source: U.S., Marine Corps Muster Rolls
Muster Roll of Enlisted Men 01 October 1941 to 27 November 1941
Company D, First Battalion, Fourth Marines, Shanghai, China
Private First Class Donald K. Hoffman
Source: U.S., Marine Corps Muster Rolls
Donald was able to make one visit home to California while stationed in China.
On the 14th of November, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt announced that "The Government of the United States has decided to withdraw the American Marine detachments now maintained ashore in China..." Clouds of war were quickly closing in on the China Marines as Japan and the United States edged ever closer to active hostilities.
On Thursday, 27 November 1941, the 2nd Battalion boarded the SS President Madison bound for Olongapo Navy Yard, Philippines. On 30 November the Madison arrived at Subic Bay. With relations between the United States and Japan deteriorating, the 4th Marines were given the task of protecting the Olongapo Naval Station. Source: From Shanghai to Corregidor: Marines in the Defense of the Philippines by J. Michael Miller.
On 08 December 1941 war with Japan broke out. The rapid advance of the Japanese led General Douglas MacArthur to abandon Manila and to declare it an open city on 26 December 1941 and order the withdraw of American and Filipino troops on Luzon to the Bataan peninsula. By the 26th the 2nd Battalion was moved to Mariveles, Bataan. "As night fell on 26 December all personnel, equipment, and supplies were in place in the jungle near Mariveles.
At some point over the next couple of days Private First Class Donald K. Hoffman and the rest of Company D, 4th Marines were sent over to Fort Mills, Corregidor, P. I. where he is found in the January 1942 thru the final surviving muster (April 1942) before the surrender. They were assigned to the beach defenses on the north eastern side of the island.
On the night of 05 May 1942, Japanese forces landed on the island and overwhelmed the garrison, which surrendered at 1200 hours the following day. He was initially listed as missing in action but by the July 1942 Muster Roll it had been changed to killed in action (Auth report from INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS dated 03 July 1942). Private First Class Donald K. Hoffman was killed in action sometime during those final hours of fighting. He was officially declared dead as of 06 May 1942. A number of his buddies who were taken prisoner signed affidavits at Cabanatuan stating that they had seen his body on Corregidor. His remains were not recovered after the war.
Private First Class Donald Kahl Hoffman is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing - United States Marine Corps at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.
Home of Record: 6131 Mesa Avenue, Los Angeles, California
Although born in Colorado he lived most of his life the Highland Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. He attended Garvanza Elementary School, Luther Burbank Junior High School and Benjamin Franklin High School.
Donald K. Hoffman enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps (S/N 281459) on 17 January 1940 in Los Angles, California. He was sent to MCRD, San Diego for Boot Camp. After completing his training, he was sent to Marine Barracks, Navy Yard, Mare Island, California where he embarked on 23 March 1940 via the U.S.S. HENDERSON bound for his Asiatic Station. The ship arrived at Shanghai, China on 01 May. Private Hoffman was assigned to Company B, First Battalion, Fourth Marines.
Muster Roll of Enlisted Men 01 May 1940 to 01 October 1941
Company B, First Battalion, Fourth Marines, Shanghai, China
Private/Private First Class Donald K. Hoffman. He was promoted to Private First Class on 13 November 1940. On 01 October 1941 he was assigned to Company D.
Source: U.S., Marine Corps Muster Rolls
Muster Roll of Enlisted Men 01 October 1941 to 27 November 1941
Company D, First Battalion, Fourth Marines, Shanghai, China
Private First Class Donald K. Hoffman
Source: U.S., Marine Corps Muster Rolls
Donald was able to make one visit home to California while stationed in China.
On the 14th of November, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt announced that "The Government of the United States has decided to withdraw the American Marine detachments now maintained ashore in China..." Clouds of war were quickly closing in on the China Marines as Japan and the United States edged ever closer to active hostilities.
On Thursday, 27 November 1941, the 2nd Battalion boarded the SS President Madison bound for Olongapo Navy Yard, Philippines. On 30 November the Madison arrived at Subic Bay. With relations between the United States and Japan deteriorating, the 4th Marines were given the task of protecting the Olongapo Naval Station. Source: From Shanghai to Corregidor: Marines in the Defense of the Philippines by J. Michael Miller.
On 08 December 1941 war with Japan broke out. The rapid advance of the Japanese led General Douglas MacArthur to abandon Manila and to declare it an open city on 26 December 1941 and order the withdraw of American and Filipino troops on Luzon to the Bataan peninsula. By the 26th the 2nd Battalion was moved to Mariveles, Bataan. "As night fell on 26 December all personnel, equipment, and supplies were in place in the jungle near Mariveles.
At some point over the next couple of days Private First Class Donald K. Hoffman and the rest of Company D, 4th Marines were sent over to Fort Mills, Corregidor, P. I. where he is found in the January 1942 thru the final surviving muster (April 1942) before the surrender. They were assigned to the beach defenses on the north eastern side of the island.
On the night of 05 May 1942, Japanese forces landed on the island and overwhelmed the garrison, which surrendered at 1200 hours the following day. He was initially listed as missing in action but by the July 1942 Muster Roll it had been changed to killed in action (Auth report from INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS dated 03 July 1942). Private First Class Donald K. Hoffman was killed in action sometime during those final hours of fighting. He was officially declared dead as of 06 May 1942. A number of his buddies who were taken prisoner signed affidavits at Cabanatuan stating that they had seen his body on Corregidor. His remains were not recovered after the war.
Private First Class Donald Kahl Hoffman is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing - United States Marine Corps at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.
Son of Charles Oliver Hoffman (1883-1939) and Martha E. Kahl (1898 Colorado -1971 California). Besides his parents, he had one sister, Charline and one brother, William "Billie".
Home of Record: 6131 Mesa Avenue, Los Angeles, California
Although born in Colorado he lived most of his life the Highland Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. He attended Garvanza Elementary School, Luther Burbank Junior High School and Benjamin Franklin High School.
Donald K. Hoffman enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps (S/N 281459) on 17 January 1940 in Los Angles, California. He was sent to MCRD, San Diego for Boot Camp. After completing his training, he was sent to Marine Barracks, Navy Yard, Mare Island, California where he embarked on 23 March 1940 via the U.S.S. HENDERSON bound for his Asiatic Station. The ship arrived at Shanghai, China on 01 May. Private Hoffman was assigned to Company B, First Battalion, Fourth Marines.
Muster Roll of Enlisted Men 01 May 1940 to 01 October 1941
Company B, First Battalion, Fourth Marines, Shanghai, China
Private/Private First Class Donald K. Hoffman. He was promoted to Private First Class on 13 November 1940. On 01 October 1941 he was assigned to Company D.
Source: U.S., Marine Corps Muster Rolls
Muster Roll of Enlisted Men 01 October 1941 to 27 November 1941
Company D, First Battalion, Fourth Marines, Shanghai, China
Private First Class Donald K. Hoffman
Source: U.S., Marine Corps Muster Rolls
Donald was able to make one visit home to California while stationed in China.
On the 14th of November, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt announced that "The Government of the United States has decided to withdraw the American Marine detachments now maintained ashore in China..." Clouds of war were quickly closing in on the China Marines as Japan and the United States edged ever closer to active hostilities.
On Thursday, 27 November 1941, the 2nd Battalion boarded the SS President Madison bound for Olongapo Navy Yard, Philippines. On 30 November the Madison arrived at Subic Bay. With relations between the United States and Japan deteriorating, the 4th Marines were given the task of protecting the Olongapo Naval Station. Source: From Shanghai to Corregidor: Marines in the Defense of the Philippines by J. Michael Miller.
On 08 December 1941 war with Japan broke out. The rapid advance of the Japanese led General Douglas MacArthur to abandon Manila and to declare it an open city on 26 December 1941 and order the withdraw of American and Filipino troops on Luzon to the Bataan peninsula. By the 26th the 2nd Battalion was moved to Mariveles, Bataan. "As night fell on 26 December all personnel, equipment, and supplies were in place in the jungle near Mariveles.
At some point over the next couple of days Private First Class Donald K. Hoffman and the rest of Company D, 4th Marines were sent over to Fort Mills, Corregidor, P. I. where he is found in the January 1942 thru the final surviving muster (April 1942) before the surrender. They were assigned to the beach defenses on the north eastern side of the island.
On the night of 05 May 1942, Japanese forces landed on the island and overwhelmed the garrison, which surrendered at 1200 hours the following day. He was initially listed as missing in action but by the July 1942 Muster Roll it had been changed to killed in action (Auth report from INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS dated 03 July 1942). Private First Class Donald K. Hoffman was killed in action sometime during those final hours of fighting. He was officially declared dead as of 06 May 1942. A number of his buddies who were taken prisoner signed affidavits at Cabanatuan stating that they had seen his body on Corregidor. His remains were not recovered after the war.
Private First Class Donald Kahl Hoffman is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing - United States Marine Corps at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.
Home of Record: 6131 Mesa Avenue, Los Angeles, California
Although born in Colorado he lived most of his life the Highland Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. He attended Garvanza Elementary School, Luther Burbank Junior High School and Benjamin Franklin High School.
Donald K. Hoffman enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps (S/N 281459) on 17 January 1940 in Los Angles, California. He was sent to MCRD, San Diego for Boot Camp. After completing his training, he was sent to Marine Barracks, Navy Yard, Mare Island, California where he embarked on 23 March 1940 via the U.S.S. HENDERSON bound for his Asiatic Station. The ship arrived at Shanghai, China on 01 May. Private Hoffman was assigned to Company B, First Battalion, Fourth Marines.
Muster Roll of Enlisted Men 01 May 1940 to 01 October 1941
Company B, First Battalion, Fourth Marines, Shanghai, China
Private/Private First Class Donald K. Hoffman. He was promoted to Private First Class on 13 November 1940. On 01 October 1941 he was assigned to Company D.
Source: U.S., Marine Corps Muster Rolls
Muster Roll of Enlisted Men 01 October 1941 to 27 November 1941
Company D, First Battalion, Fourth Marines, Shanghai, China
Private First Class Donald K. Hoffman
Source: U.S., Marine Corps Muster Rolls
Donald was able to make one visit home to California while stationed in China.
On the 14th of November, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt announced that "The Government of the United States has decided to withdraw the American Marine detachments now maintained ashore in China..." Clouds of war were quickly closing in on the China Marines as Japan and the United States edged ever closer to active hostilities.
On Thursday, 27 November 1941, the 2nd Battalion boarded the SS President Madison bound for Olongapo Navy Yard, Philippines. On 30 November the Madison arrived at Subic Bay. With relations between the United States and Japan deteriorating, the 4th Marines were given the task of protecting the Olongapo Naval Station. Source: From Shanghai to Corregidor: Marines in the Defense of the Philippines by J. Michael Miller.
On 08 December 1941 war with Japan broke out. The rapid advance of the Japanese led General Douglas MacArthur to abandon Manila and to declare it an open city on 26 December 1941 and order the withdraw of American and Filipino troops on Luzon to the Bataan peninsula. By the 26th the 2nd Battalion was moved to Mariveles, Bataan. "As night fell on 26 December all personnel, equipment, and supplies were in place in the jungle near Mariveles.
At some point over the next couple of days Private First Class Donald K. Hoffman and the rest of Company D, 4th Marines were sent over to Fort Mills, Corregidor, P. I. where he is found in the January 1942 thru the final surviving muster (April 1942) before the surrender. They were assigned to the beach defenses on the north eastern side of the island.
On the night of 05 May 1942, Japanese forces landed on the island and overwhelmed the garrison, which surrendered at 1200 hours the following day. He was initially listed as missing in action but by the July 1942 Muster Roll it had been changed to killed in action (Auth report from INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS dated 03 July 1942). Private First Class Donald K. Hoffman was killed in action sometime during those final hours of fighting. He was officially declared dead as of 06 May 1942. A number of his buddies who were taken prisoner signed affidavits at Cabanatuan stating that they had seen his body on Corregidor. His remains were not recovered after the war.
Private First Class Donald Kahl Hoffman is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing - United States Marine Corps at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from California.
Family Members
Other Records
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