Tank FM's Bob Hoffman pays tribute to Anzac Day
Author: Laurie Bullock | Source: The Macleay Argus | Date: 02-05-08
Marching alongside the diggers on Anzac Day last week was an American.
Bob Hoffman moved to the Macleay Valley in 2004 and the former US serviceman has embraced the Anzac Day tradition.
“In the US we had Memorial Day,” Mr Hoffman said.
“There used to be parades and marches. Some cities still do it but during Vietnam it fell by the wayside a bit.”
Memorial Day is held on the last Monday of May each year.
“The average (US) citizen doesn’t look at Memorial Day the way Australians look at Anzac Day,” Mr Hoffman said.
He said Memorial Day was just a day off work for most people in the US.
Before moving to Australia Mr Hoffman had a good knowledge of Australia’s military history.
“I knew about the HMAS Sydney story, and I knew that in the First and Second World Wars Australia, percentage wise, had more people under arms than any other nation,” he said.
Marching among the Australian Diggers, Mr Hoffman marvelled at the endurance of some of the older veterans.
“You see these old guys, they’re frail. But as soon as you hear ‘attention!’ and the band strikes up, they’re up straight away and they’re in step,” he said.
Mr Hoffman was born in New Jersey in 1941 and first visited Australia in 1990. When he returned for good in 2004 the Macleay Valley caught his eye.
“I came here for a holiday and liked it. I just liked the town, and the people,” he said.
Mr Hoffman served in the US Navy between 1959 and 1963.
“The two ships I served on were the USS Wasp and USS Kitty Hawk,” he said.
“While aboard Wasp, I was in the deck force and stood bridge watches. After being posted to Kitty Hawk and while waiting to put the ship in commission, I attended Assault Boat Coxswain schools.
“After Kitty Hawk was commissioned, I was assigned to the Fire Control division where I worked on the radars and computers that controlled the ships weapons systems.”
Away from the military Mr Hoffman enjoys music and since moving to the Macleay Valley he has been an announcer with Tank FM, the local community radio station.
“There are a few things I like about being on Tank FM,” he said.
“I love music and enjoy sharing it. Although I love music, I never learned how to play any instruments.
“Hell, I was having trouble learning how to play my stereo system,” he joked.
“It gives me something to do.”
Mr Hoffman said community radio provided an important service to Australia, and Tank FM provided that service to the Macleay Valley.
He said it was an opportunity to become part of the community.
“Being too old, lazy and fat for the SES, and with most other volunteering requiring early mornings, I decided on radio,” he said.
“Other than volunteer work, I can’t think of a better way to become part of a community.”