Chillicothe community celebrates its connections to Pearl Harbor sailor

Megan Becker, Chillicothe Gazette
·3 min read
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CHILLICOTHE— The Joseph Hoffman memorial weekend kicked off on Friday with an open house at the Joseph W. Hoffman American Legion Post 757 where community members remembered the sailor and shared their coincidental connections with him.

Hoffman was killed in the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. His remains were recovered during World War II, but could not be identified until 2020 when scientists used anthropologic and DNA analysis. Chillicothe celebrated the sailor with several different events over the weekend.

Dean Williams, a member of the Joseph W. Hoffman American Legion Post 757, shared that he recently rediscovered a forgotten handkerchief that belonged to Hoffman.

Robert Leach, of the Ross County Service Commission, holds up a Navy handkerchief that once belonged to Joseph T Hoffman as he talks about the history of Hoffman during a memorial service in the honor of Joseph T. Hoffman, who died on December 7, 1941 aboard the U.S.S Oklahoma in the attack on Pearl Harbor, at The Joseph W. Hoffman American Legion Post 757 in Chillicothe, Ohio on August 20, 2022. The remains of Hoffman were found after 80 years and have been brought home.

He meant to donate it to the legion post long ago, but had misplaced it and consequently forgotten about it. Just this week, he found it while reorganizing his gun safe. The artifact had embroidered edges and read "U.S. Navy."

Lt. Colonel Bob Leach, a local historian and former history teacher, described Williams finding the handkerchief a week before Hoffman's remains were coming home to Southern Ohio as "supernatural."

Bob Pulver, an Airforce veteran and the owner of Hoffman's childhood home, said he purchased the home in the 90s without knowing the history behind it. He said he has thought of selling his home in the past, but now that he knows the historic value, he plans to keep the house for the foreseeable future.

A memorial service in the honor of Joseph T. Hoffman, who died on December 7, 1941 aboard the U.S.S Oklahoma in the attack on Pearl Harbor, at The Joseph W. Hoffman American Legion Post 757 in Chillicothe, Ohio on August 20, 2022. The remains of Hoffman were found after 80 years and have been brought home.
A memorial service in the honor of Joseph T. Hoffman, who died on December 7, 1941 aboard the U.S.S Oklahoma in the attack on Pearl Harbor, at The Joseph W. Hoffman American Legion Post 757 in Chillicothe, Ohio on August 20, 2022. The remains of Hoffman were found after 80 years and have been brought home.

Another artifact was also located recently in Circleville at another legion post. An American flag that was possibly recovered from the USS Oklahoma, the ship Hoffman was stationed on during Pearl Harbor, was discovered at the Circleville legion post. The flag was on display at Hoffman's funeral service on Saturday.

Among the coincidences, it was announced by the Navy that Hoffman was identified less than a day after Johna Pulver with the Ross County Veterans Service Office contacted them about an update on Hoffman's case.

The Chillicothe Post 757 Junior team also won the regional tournament this year, which Leach believes was inspired by Hoffman's identification.

Leach began the ceremony by giving an oral history of Hoffman's life. Teresa Lewis, a from U.S. representative Brad Wenstrup's office, came to the celebration to read a letter written by Wenstrup in honor of Hoffman's return to Chillicothe.

"Your hometown boy is finally home," Lewis read. "The unbearable grief his family must have felt learning Joseph was missing in action and presumed dead and the pride they felt at the same time knowing their precious son was doing what he loved and serving his country."

Wenstrup offered a flag that had been flown over Washington D.C. to commemorate the event.

The Huntington High School marching band performed and paid homage to Hoffman's roots in high school marching band. Band director Kristin Coen-Mishlan said they also participated in the ceremony to thank the legion post because it recently donated money for the drum line.

"I got a little teary-eyed when I was talking to [my students] and explaining the importance of being invited to participate in this today and the importance of respecting what he did for our country," Coen-Mishlan said.

After performing, the members of the band got to participate in a tribute to veterans in Ross County by trying on traditional uniforms from different branches of the military. Then, they helped during the Ross County Veterans Honor Guard Flag Burning Ceremony.

The celebration came to a close with the Ross County Veterans Honor Guard Flag Burning Ceremony. Barbara Koch, a member of the honor guard, said she was honored to participate in the celebration.

A memorial service in the honor of Joseph T. Hoffman, who died on December 7, 1941 aboard the U.S.S Oklahoma in the attack on Pearl Harbor, at The Joseph W. Hoffman American Legion Post 757 in Chillicothe, Ohio on August 20, 2022. The remains of Hoffman were found after 80 years and have been brought home.
A memorial service in the honor of Joseph T. Hoffman, who died on December 7, 1941 aboard the U.S.S Oklahoma in the attack on Pearl Harbor, at The Joseph W. Hoffman American Legion Post 757 in Chillicothe, Ohio on August 20, 2022. The remains of Hoffman were found after 80 years and have been brought home.

"When we have things like this it brings the community together," Koch said. "When the veterans and everyone gets together, I think it's a good thing."

A memorial service for Hoffman will be held today at 11 a.m. at Tyler Methodist Church.

Megan Becker is a reporter for the Chillicothe Gazette. Call her at 740-349-1106, email her at mbecker@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter @BeckerReporting.

A memorial service in the honor of Joseph T. Hoffman, who died on December 7, 1941 aboard the U.S.S Oklahoma in the attack on Pearl Harbor, at The Joseph W. Hoffman American Legion Post 757 in Chillicothe, Ohio on August 20, 2022. The remains of Hoffman were found after 80 years and have been brought home.
A memorial service in the honor of Joseph T. Hoffman, who died on December 7, 1941 aboard the U.S.S Oklahoma in the attack on Pearl Harbor, at The Joseph W. Hoffman American Legion Post 757 in Chillicothe, Ohio on August 20, 2022. The remains of Hoffman were found after 80 years and have been brought home.

This article originally appeared on Chillicothe Gazette: Chillicothe community celebrates its connections to Pearl Harbor sailor