John M. Hoffmann was born on December 4, 1908. He was the son of Henry Hoffmann and Lena Jones Hoffmann. He served in the 350th Infantry Regiment, 88th Infantry Division, as a Major during World War II.

After the fall of Bataan in the hands of the Japanese Army on April 9, 1942, Maj Hoffmann was one of the 10,000 to 12,000 Americans who were forced to march over 60 miles under brutal conditions, resulting in 1,000 to 5,000 deaths due to starvation, dehydration, and abuse. Survivors were sent to Camp O'Donnell, where dire conditions, including overcrowding, malnutrition, and disease, caused an additional 1,500 to 2,300 American deaths within weeks. Those who survived faced ongoing hardships, including transfers to other camps and forced labor, where many continued to suffer or die.

Maj Hoffmann was among the American soldiers who lost their lives in captivity on January 2, 1944. He is now buried in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Honolulu County, Hawaii, USA.

Source of information: www.livescience.com