Mesch in Eijsden-Margraten, Limburg, Netherlands — Northwestern Europe
Leonard J. Hoffman
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, October 28, 2023
1. Leonard J. Hoffman Marker
On the morning of 12 September 1944, not far from this spot, he lost his life. He had only just married his wife Nora J. Lyons 9 months before. Leonard was the youngest child in his family and the first to die.
He enlisted in the Army on 15 February 1943, at Lewisburg, Union County, Pennsylvania, and served with 117th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division during World War II. He held the rank of Private First Class.
Fierce fight on Tuesday 12 September 1944
When A-company approached the border, they came under heavy fire from the German line at an intersection 800 meters south of the Dutch customs post. Captain Kent worked out an attack plan, in which the German line would be stormed from three sides at the same time. In that action, Lieutenant Maloney reached the Dutch border at border post 35 with his light machine gun section, which formed the right wing. They were the first liberators on Dutch soil.
During this short but fierce battle,
this page online
Leonard J. Hoffman was de eerste Amerikaanse soldaat die tijdens de bevrijding van Nederland om het leven kwam.
Op de ochtend van 12 september 1944, niet ver van deze plek, verloor hij zijn leven. Hij trouwde slechts 9 maanden eerder met zijn vrouw Nora J. Lyons. Leonard was het jongste kind van het gezin en de eerste die stierf.
Hij trad op 15 februari 1943 in Lewisburg, Union County, Pennsylvania in het leger in dienst en diende bij 117th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division tijdens de Tweede Wereldoorlog. Hij had de rang van Private First Class.
Hevig gevecht op dinsdag 12 september 1944
Toen de A-compagnie de grens naderde werd er hevig geschoten vanuit de Duitse linie bij een kruispunt 800 meter ten zuiden van de Nederlandse douanepost. Kapitein Kent werkte een aanvalsplan uit, waarbij de "Duitse linie van drie kanten tegelijk zou worden bestormd. Bij die actie bereikte luitenant Maloney met zijn lichte mitrailleursectie, die de rechter vleugel vormde, de Nederlandse grens bij grenspaal 35. Daarmee stonden de eerste bevrijders op Nederlands grondgebied.
Tijdens dit korte, maar hevige
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, October 28, 2023
2. Leonard J. Hoffman Marker - wide view
The marker is visible here mounted to a low retaining wall, just a few steps to the right of an additional small gray memorial to him and a larger memorial commemorating the liberation of the Netherlands.
Topics. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, World II. A significant historical date for this entry is September 12, 1944.
Location. 50° 45.762′ N, 5° 43.862′ E. Marker is in Mesch, Limburg, in Eijsden-Margraten. Memorial is on Grijzegraaf, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Grijzegraaf 12, Mesch, Limburg 6245 KG, Netherlands. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Mesch Liberation Monument (here, next to this marker); Leonard J. Hoffman Memorial (here, next to this marker); John Knottenbelt (a few steps from this marker); Het Eerste Bevrijde Cafe / The First Liberated Cafe (within shouting distance of this marker); Welcome to Holland (approx. 1.6 kilometers away); Martin H. Wolfs Memorial (approx. 1.8 kilometers away); De Vlucht van Keizer Wilhelm II / The Flight of Kaiser Wilhelm II (approx. 1.8 kilometers away); Opvang Belgische vluchtelingen / Asylum for Belgian Refugees (approx. 1.8 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mesch.
3. Marker detail: Leonard J. Hoffman
Credits. This page was last revised on November 11, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 11, 2023, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 55 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 11, 2023, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
