IN MEMORIAM

CPL JOSHUA HOFFMAN

Middleville, MI

 
On Jan. 6, 2007, Cpl Joshua Hoffman was on patrol in the streets of Fallujah, Iraq, when a man with a rocket propelled grenade (RPG) appeared in his line of sight. The insurgent ran off, with Josh’s group of Marines following and capturing him. It was a standard, by the book procedure that they followed effortlessly. Josh was assigned to lead the group of men on foot.

During the operation, one shot rang-out, and everyone dove to the ground. His men got up to make sure everyone was okay – but one man did not. Josh lay face-down in the soil, unable to move, when his Navy Corpsman came to his aid. His men frantically did everything they could to keep everyone safe while trying to save his life, and it worked.

Josh spent 20 months away from his home, his friends, and his family. Fourteen of those months were spent inside the four walls of his hospital room, 800 miles away from home, staring at the same ceiling, praying to wake up and be back in Iraq, having all this be a bad nightmare. He says he’s lucky – lucky to be alive, and lucky it’s not worse. A man who had everything, a life many dream of, and now can hardly speak, barely see, and cannot move even a finger to itch his nose. Yet, he still says he is lucky.

He was dependent on a ventilator to breathe for him for six months, and still relies on a tracheotomy and oxygen. Although that bullet left him paralyzed from the neck down, Josh is a fighter, having relearned to speak, adjusted to his new routine, and still displaying an incredibly positive attitude and sharp sense of humor as he interacts with his caregiver, dogs, and family and friends.

Homes For Our Troops presented Josh Hoffman with a specially adapted home on Jan. 31, 2009.

Homes For Our Troops extends its deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Marine Cpl Joshua Hoffman, who passed away the evening of December 27, 2021. He was a valued member of the HFOT Family, and was an engaging friend who was focused on serving others. We will miss him greatly.