More detail on this person: LTC Glenn Frank Hoffman, U.S. Army (Retired) VIETNAM HELICOPTER PILOT ASSOCIATION (VHPA) Hoffman, Glenn F. USA LTC (Ret) Flight Class: 58-17, RVN 67-68, 240 AHC, Callsign: Greyhound 6 Glenn Frank Hoffman, a beloved father, husband, and decorated military veteran, passed away in San Antonio, TX, at the age of 92. He was welcomed home by his Heavenly Father on Apil 10, 2025. Born on November 13, 1932, on the family farm near Somerset, TX, to Frank H. and Effie May (Chapman) Hoffman, Glenn spent his early years working on the farm, helping with chores, and working in the fields. He also assisted in marketing his parents' cut flowers and produce in San Antonio. Excelling in athletics, Glenn followed in his brother's footsteps and became a standout high school athlete, particularly in pole vaulting, a family passion. He broke the State High School Class B pole vault record and graduated from Somerset High School in 1950. Glenn received a two-year track and football scholarship to Victoria Junior College, where he earned letters in both sports and won the National Junior College Pole Vault Championship in Hutchinson, Kansas, in 1952. He also placed first in the State Junior College Livestock Judging Contest. The defining moment of Glenn's life came when he met his future wife, Dera "Lillian" Hanson of Cuero, TX, during their time at Victoria Junior College. Glenn often referred to Lillian as the most beautiful and sweetest girl on campus, and two years later, they married at the First Baptist Church in Cuero on August 29, 1953. After his marriage, Glenn received a two-year track scholarship at the University of Texas at Austin, where he became the best pole vaulter on the team. He added ROTC to his academic pursuits and graduated in 1955 as a Distinguished Military Graduate (DMG). His first assignment with the U.S. Army was with the 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Benning, GA. From there, Glenn swiftly earned Airborne, Ranger, and Rifle Marksmanship Instructor qualifications, quickly establishing himself as a leader within the military. He also coached and competed with the 7th Infantry Regimental Rifle Team, winning the Division Championship and later competing at the National Matches at Camp Perry, OH. Glenn's long-time dream of flying helicopters led him to enroll in Army Flight Training at Camp Gary, TX, in 1958 as a member of Brown Hat Class 58-17. He completed fixed-wing training at Fort Rucker, AL, followed by helicopter school at Fort Wolters, TX. His first aviation assignment took him to the 81th TC (CH-21 Helicopter Company) at Fort Riley, KS, where he flew numerous rescue and support missions, including flood rescues in Nebraska and USAF high-altitude balloon missions in Texas. Glenn later served as the US Army I-Corps' Staff Aviation Maintenance Officer at Camp Red Cloud, Korea. In the early 1960s, after completing Branch Training at Fort Eustis, VA, Glenn's career took him to Munich, Germany, where he commanded both the 246th and the 661st Transportation Aircraft Maintenance Companies. However, due to the Vietnam War, his assignment in Germany was shortened, and he returned to the U.S. to activate the 240th Assault Helicopter Company, Greyhounds, Mad Dogs, and Kennel Keepers, at Fort Hood, TX. As the commanding officer, Glenn deployed with the 240th to Camp Bearcat, Vietnam, in May 1967. The unit's primary mission was to support the 9th U.S. Infantry Division, the Royal Thai Brigade, and other South Vietnamese units, conducting combat assault operations to land courageous infantry in hostile landing zones (LZs). Glenn had the utmost respect for the crew chiefs and gunners, who played vital roles in these missions, trusting the pilots with their lives while providing suppressive fire. The pilots, in turn, demonstrated immense skill and bravery as they flew in formation and navigated hot LZs under the direction of the Air Mission Commander. After Glenn's six months command time was completed, he moved to the S-3 office in the 12th Combat Aviation Group for the rest of his tour. After returning to the U.S. in 1968, Glenn and his family moved to Fort Bragg, NC, where he became the Operations Officer (S3) for Simmons Army Aviation Command, which included overseeing operations at the Airfield. He spent much of his time presenting the "Army Aviation Dog & Pony Show" to ROTC students at universities across the Carolinas. Later, the family moved to Fort Leavenworth, KS, where Glenn attended the Command and General Staff College (CGSC). His subsequent assignment was at the Fifth U.S. Army Headquarters at Fort Sam Houston, TX, where he served as the Reserve Component Army Aviation Staff Officer, improving the readiness of Army Reserve and National Guard aviation units in a 13-state area. In addition to his regular duties at Fort Sam Houston, Glenn served as a Site Control Officer for the funerals of Presidents Harry S. Truman and Lyndon B. Johnson, overseeing the coordination of military personnel for these national and international events. Glenn considered this a highlight of his military career. His next assignment took the family to Hawaii, where Glenn served on the staff of Commander-in-Chief, Pacific (CINCPAC) as the Security Assistance Training Officer. This role involved conducting workshops and staff visits to Asian countries, training U.S. personnel in Military Assistance Advisory Groups (MAAG) and Defense Attaché Offices (DAO). For his terminal military assignment, the family moved back to San Antonio in 1978, where Glenn became the Deputy Commandant of the Defense Language Institute English Language Center (DLIELC) at Lackland AFB. This role involved working with students from over 50 countries, giving Glenn and Lillian the opportunity to serve as U.S. ambassadors to numerous foreign military and government officials. Glenn retired from the Army after 28 years of service, and he and Lillian considered his military career to be a partnership. They retired in September 1983 and enjoyed their post-military life, with Glenn being honored by the Lackland AFB Command Element by dedicating one of its weekly USAF Basic Training Graduation Parades in his honor, a rare tribute for a U.S. Army retiree. Glenn's decorations and awards include the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 26 Oak Leaf Clusters, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Master Army Aviator Wings, the Ranger Tab, and the Parachute Badge. After retiring from the Army, Glenn and Lillian established Honeybranch Farm southwest of San Antonio, where they grew fruit and vegetables and expanded a market for their produce. After 19 years, they sold the farm in 2002 and relocated to San Antonio. Glenn was preceded in death by their infant children, Mary Beth and John Paul; his parents; sisters Kathryn Hoffman Hicks Fialka (and husbands Carl and Arnold), Helen Ruth Hoffman Baxter (and husband David); and brothers Herman Hoffman (and wife Joyce), Kenneth Hoffman (and wives Norma Dean and Ora Lea), and Adolph Hoffman (and wife Patsy). He is survived by his beloved wife of 71 years, Lillian Hoffman; daughters Annette E. Hoffman McCaughtry and her husband Bob, and Glenda S. Hoffman; son David G. Hoffman and his wife Sandra; grandsons Jason Hoffman and his wife Lupe, and Ashton Hoffman and his wife Megan; great-grandsons Jackson and Matthew. Glenn also leaves behind numerous extended family members, friends, fellow veterans, and church companions who cherished his warmth, integrity, and sense of humor. A ceremony with full military honors will be held at 11:00 a.m. on May 5th, 2025, at the assembly area of Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, to honor Glenn's military service. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to express sympathy may make donations in Glenn F. Hoffman's memory to the Fellowship of San Antonio (23755 Canyon Golf Rd, San Antonio, TX 78258-4926, www.thefellowshipofsa.org) or Indigenous Ministries (15455 Gleneagle Dr. Ste 130, Colorado Springs, CO 80921, www.indigenousministries.org).
Burial information: Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery
This information was last updated 04/27/2025
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Date posted on this site: 10/13/2025
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