The Bismarck tribune., 1928-10-11
PAUL N'NUTT WON AMERICAN ECIONS HIGHEST HONORBY
DEFEATING MAN Who REFUSED COMPENSATION FOR WOUNDS
Oklahoman Served In Spanish.
American, Indian, Mexican
and World Wars

Gears ago the peaceful spinning Of
ksysd tape in one Of official Washing
tons most important departments
WAS rudely and shockingly put askew.
An ex-service man had actually
sent back to the government check
Tor $685. which had been forwarded
him for disability received in action.
Government departments being
what they are, this caused nearly
sas much confusion as if the mem
hers of the supreme court had re-
sported for duty In Scotch kits. Prob
ably it got Strengthened out event.
rally; anyhow
n The former soldier who tossed this
bombshell has become the next COM
smander Of the American Legion at
tthe convention in San Antonio.
He is Brig. Gen. Roy Hoffman Of
sOklahoma City, whose friends pushed
his candidacy for election to the high
.est office in the legion.
Career 10 Colorful
: Gen. Hoffman, commander of the
,93d division during the war, and
now holding reserve officers COM
EMISSION, has had q colorful and in
,teresting career.
8 Born on a farm in Neosha county,
fKas., in 1869, he grew up in that
neighborhood and moved to Okla
shoma when that vast tract of land
was opened to white settlement.
After founding Oklahoma's first
daily newspaper, the G h er e
Leader, he became an attorney and
like many attorneys Of that time and
place, entered politics. He became
brivate secretary to Territorial Gov
ernor Renfrow and later United
States attorney.
In 1897, after holding the latter
soffice for five years, Hoffman re-
signed to get the first taste Of that
army life that was to comprise such
i large portion of his subsequent
career. He enlisted as a private in
The Oklahoma militia, and shortly
after the Spanish-American War
broke out he was promoted to captain
n the First Territorial u. S. Volun-
teer Infantry. At the close OF the
war the regiment was reorganized
and Hoffman became lieutenant
colonel.
Was Indian Fighter
The close of the war did not end
his army career or the excitement
attendant thereon. The Indians of
the southwest had not yet been paci-
fled, and Hoffman's regiment was
called out repeatedly to deal with
uprisinrs. The last Indian outbreak
in the United States, that of Crazy
Horse, saw Hoffman's command IN
action. !,
Through the years Of peace that
followed Hoffman retained his COM
mission while pursuing his law prac-
tice. During the Mexican border
trouble Just before Americas en-
trance into the World War he was
called to field duty, and in 1917 ne
was made brigadier general. IN
that capacity he organized and took
overseas the seth division, being
transferred in France to the COM
mand Of the 93d division, composed
Of colored troops. !.
This division had an active record,
and Hoffman was repeatedly under
fire with his men-at Cantigny.
Americas first battle Of the World
War. at St. Mihiel, and in the Toul
and Picardy sectors. He was badly
gassed during one Of these engage
ments, and was confined to a base
hospital for some time. While there,
he Inadvertently signed some dis
ability papers; and 1t was this that
gave rise to the incident that 50
Jared the tape-bound department
officials at Washington later.
won't Rob Government"
Several years after the war, Gen.
Hoffman received from the govern
ment a check for 1896 as compensa-
ton for his disability. Being in
good health, he promptly sent the
check back. =
II do not care to rob the govern
ment Of disability compensation
when / do not need it." he said. "As
long as l am able to support my
family l ask for nothing. When
cannot make q livelihood for them
as hundreds Of actually disabled
soldiers cannot, then I expect care
and compensation-just as ] fight
for all disabled to have"
Gen. Hoffman has been active II
legion affairs since the legion wa.
founded, being charter member ane
one Of the organizers Of the Okla.
homa department. He has been state
commander Of this department, ane
has, in addition, served as depart.
ment commander Of the United Span.
ish War Veterans, and as president
of the Reserve Officers Association
of the United States. He has also
been president Of the Oklahoma Bal
Association and the Oklahoma Press
Association.