Senate Resolution No. 2906
BY: Senator JORDAN
COMMENDING Sergeant William H. Hoffay upon the
occasion of his designation as recipient of a
Liberty Medal, the highest honor bestowed upon an
individual by the New York State Senate
WHEREAS, Members of the Armed Services from the State of New York,
who have served so valiantly and honorably in wars in which this
country's freedom was at stake, as well as in the preservation of peace
in peacetime, deserve a special salute from this Legislative Body; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commend Sergeant
William H. Hoffay upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of a
Liberty Medal, the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the New
York State Senate; he will be presented with this prestigious award at
the Rensselaer County Hometown Heroes Dinner on Friday, October 28,
2022; and
WHEREAS, The New York State Senate Liberty Medal was established by
Resolution and is awarded to individuals who have merited special
commendation for exceptional, heroic, or humanitarian acts on behalf of
their fellow New Yorkers; and
WHEREAS, William H. Hoffay joined the United States Navy Reserve on
November 30, 1964, completing two weeks of basic training in April of
1965, at the Great Lakes Training Facility in Illinois; later, he joined
the active-duty Army, and was sent to Fort Dix, New Jersey for training;
and
WHEREAS, After completing basic training with distinction, William
H. Hoffay was promoted to Private E-2 with the top ten percent of his
class on January 13, 1966; he was then sent to Fort Gordon, Georgia for
nine weeks of Advanced Infantry Training before his last transfer to
Fort Benning, Georgia for Airborne School which he completed on April
21, 1966; and
WHEREAS, Assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade, Private William H.
Hoffay deployed to Ben Hoa, Vietnam on May 18, 1966, and was assigned to
E Troop, 17th Cavalry, 173rd; after a week of rigorous jungle training,
he joined his unit in the field where the mission included grueling day
and night patrols and frequent contact with the enemy; and
WHEREAS, On April 3, 1967, while on Operation Junction City near the
Cambodian border, Specialist Four (SP 4) William H. Hoffay was wounded
in action when his unit was ambushed; he returned to the United States
at the end of April 1967, and was assigned to North Carolina B Troop,
1st Platoon of the 17th Cavalry, 82nd, Airborne Division; and
WHEREAS, In late July and early in August of 1967, SP 4 William H.
Hoffay was sent to participate in Task Force Detroit; in November of
that same year, he was directed to Washington DC to stand by and support
during the Peace March Demonstrations; and
WHEREAS, On January 23, 1968, Sergeant William H. Hoffay, along with
the 3rd Brigade of the 82nd Airborne, was put on full alert due to the
seizure of the USS Pueblo by North Korea -- this Operation was then
canceled upon the start of the Tet Offensive, which began on January 29,
1968; within two weeks the entire 3rd Brigade of the 82nd Airborne
arrived in Vietnam; and
WHEREAS, Sergeant William H. Hoffay, an E-5 at that time, commanded
a fire team in the third platoon of B Troop, 17th Cavalry, 82nd
Airborne; this mission and operation parallels his tour of duty with
173rd Airborne; in the interim, he was promoted to Scout Section Leader
of the Third Platoon; and
WHEREAS, Upon his honorable discharge from the United States Army on
October 25, 1968, William H. Hoffay returned to Averill Park, New York,
where he worked in his family's construction business for a number of
years before taking over full operation of Hoffay Farms in 1981; and
WHEREAS, William H. Hoffay's sense of service and community never
left him; he gave tirelessly of his time and energies to countless local
community and veteran organizations for many years, and was the driving
force behind the beautiful Sand Lake Veterans Memorial located on Route
43 in the Town of Sand Lake; and
WHEREAS, For his courageous service during the Vietnam War, Sergeant
William H. Hoffay earned numerous military decorations, including: the
Bronze Star Medal for Meritorious Service; two Army Commendation Medals
for Valor and two for Meritorious Service; the Purple Heart Medal
(Combat wounded in Vietnam); the Presidential, Valorous and Meritorious
Unit Citations; the Combat Infantry and Parachute Badges, New York State
Conspicuous Service Cross and New York State Conspicuous Star; and
WHEREAS, Residents of this great State must never forget the courage
with which these men and women served their country, and must recognize
that no greater debt is owed than that owed to those who risked their
lives for their beloved Nation; and
WHEREAS, Having exhibited his patriotism both at home and abroad,
Sergeant William H. Hoffay demonstrated his love for his country and
merits forevermore the highest respect of his State and Nation; and
WHEREAS, Our Nation's veterans deserve to be recognized, commended
and thanked by the people of the State of New York for their service and
for their dedication to their communities, their State and their Nation;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Sergeant William H. Hoffay upon the occasion of his designation
as recipient of a Liberty Medal, the highest honor bestowed upon an
individual by the New York State Senate; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Sergeant William H. Hoffay.
