Army Sgt. 1st Class Hoffman was assigned to Company B, 1st Engineer Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division (Mech), Fort Riley, Kansas. Hoffman was killed in an improvised explosive device attack in Khalidiyah. James grew up in Palatine, Illinois and graduated from high school in 1980. He enlisted with the Army Reserve in November 1984 and became an active combat engineer in August 1987. He served in Operation Desert Shield and Storm and traveled around the world and the United States – from Germany to Des Moines to Fort Riley – as he worked up the ranks and continued to earn honors. He won the national Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Services Ribbon, Multinational Force and Observer Medal and the Kuwait Liberation Medal among other honors. The Army will also honor him with a Bronze Star Medal for his heroism in action and a Purple Heart. James was deployed to Iraq in September and planned to retire after 20 years of service the following September. He is remembered for his strong character and approachability that led him to maintain friendships from high school and grade school. James and his wife, Vickie, had bought a home on 25 acres in Wakefield, Kansas just 30 days before he was deployed to Iraq. He wanted to spend his retirement with his wife and raise their granddaughter, of whom they had custody. He also wanted to care for the three horses on his ranch home.
Army Sgt. 1st Class Hoffman was assigned to Company B, 1st Engineer Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division (Mech), Fort Riley, Kansas. Hoffman was killed in an improvised explosive device attack in Khalidiyah. James grew up in Palatine, Illinois and graduated from high school in 1980. He enlisted with the Army Reserve in November 1984 and became an active combat engineer in August 1987. He served in Operation Desert Shield and Storm and traveled around the world and the United States – from Germany to Des Moines to Fort Riley – as he worked up the ranks and continued to earn honors. He won the national Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Services Ribbon, Multinational Force and Observer Medal and the Kuwait Liberation Medal among other honors. The Army will also honor him with a Bronze Star Medal for his heroism in action and a Purple Heart. James was deployed to Iraq in September and planned to retire after 20 years of service the following September. He is remembered for his strong character and approachability that led him to maintain friendships from high school and grade school. James and his wife, Vickie, had bought a home on 25 acres in Wakefield, Kansas just 30 days before he was deployed to Iraq. He wanted to spend his retirement with his wife and raise their granddaughter, of whom they had custody. He also wanted to care for the three horses on his ranch home.
