Samuel Hof

Samuel Hof (October 24, 1870, Boscobel, Wisconsin – March 10, 1937, Washington, D.C.) was an officer in the United States Army during World War I. He was 13th Chief of Ordnance for the U.S. Army Ordnance Corps.

Samuel Hof
Born	October 24, 1870 Boscobel, Wisconsin
Died	March 10, 1937 (aged 66) Washington, D.C.
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1894–1934
Rank	Major General
Commands held	13th Chief of Ordnance (1930-1934)
Battles/wars	Spanish–American War World War I
Awards	Distinguished Service Medal Spanish War Service Medal World War I Victory Medal

Biography

Samuel Hof was born on October 24, 1870 in Boscobel, Wisconsin,[1][2] and graduated from West Point in 1894.[3] Some of his classmates also became general officers, including Frank Parker, Hamilton S. Hawkins III, George H. Estes, John W. Joyes, Ora E. Hunt, Pegram Whitworth, Briant H. Wells, John F. Preston, Francis L. Parker, Paul B. Malone and George Vidmer.[4]

He was originally commissioned a second lieutenant of cavalry in 1894, but he was later transferred to the Ordnance Corps.[2] For his service as a commanding officer of the Frankford Arsenal, he was later awarded with the Distinguished Service Medal.[3]

He was Chief of Ordnance[5] from 1930 to 1934. His four-year term came at the height of the Depression resulting in a significant decrease in funding for the Ordnance Department. Despite these difficulties, there was a general advance in the design and manufacturing of ordnance materiel. He made a number of recommendations for improved efficiencies in the department's supply responsibilities.[6]

Hof retired from the Army in 1934 and died on March 10, 1937 in Washington, D.C.[1][4] aged 66. He is buried together with his wife Alice Mayo Hof (1873–1962) at West Point Cemetery.[1]

Distinguished Service Medal citation

His award citation reads:

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Colonel (Ordnance Corps) Samuel Hof, United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in positions of great responsibility first as commanding officer, Frankford Arsenal from March 1918 to March 1919, where, by his indefatigable energy, outstanding administrative ability, and thorough technical knowledge, he brought to a successful production, basic tracer, incendiary, and armor-piercing small-arms ammunition, and supplied substantially all that was used by our troops; later as acting chairman of the ordnance claims board, where, by his energy, tact and business ability, he secured the settlement of outstanding obligations and later as chief of field service, ordnance department, where he perfected the organization and controlled the disposition of vast quantities of materials and plants left over from the war.[1]

References

1. "Rites Held Today for General Hof, Burial Tomorrow". The Oshkosh Northwestern. March 12, 1937. p. 21. Retrieved April 12, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
2. "Major General Samuel Hof, Chief of Ordnance 1930-1934". goordnance.army.mil. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
3. "Samuel Hof". militarytimes.com.
4. "Deceased Graduate Search". apps.westpointaog.org. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
5. "28 Army Officers from This State May Be Retired". The Post-Crescent. May 14, 1932. p. 14. Retrieved September 23, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
6. Sterling, Keir (1992). Serving the Line with Excellence 1775 - 1992. U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command Historical Studies. pp. 50–51.