Melvin Charles Hohnbaum MILITARY CITATIONS *Air Medal: For meritorious achievement in aerial flight as Aircrewman of a Patrol Plane in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Southwest Pacific Area, on September 19 and 30, 1944. During a night patrol mission HOHNBAUM rendered valuable assistance to his pilot in the infliction of serious damage on an enemy tanker. When his plane was attacked by four hostile fighters on September 30, he contributed to the probable destruction of one plane and the infliction of damage on two others. His devotion to duty and coolness under fire were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service (photo 2). *Presidential Unit Citation: For outstanding performance above the normal call of duty while engaged in Search Missions and Anti-Shipping attacks in the enemy Japanese-controlled Area of the Bismarck Sea from September 14, 1943 to February 1, 1944. Rendering pioneer service in changing the passive, defensive search into a bold and powerful offensive, Patrol Squadron ELEVEN has utilized the full potentialities of the PBY-5 seaplane and its equipment, locating enemy task force units and striking dangerously by night in devastating masthead, glide-bombing attacks to insure vital hits on the target. Dauntless and aggressive in the fulfillment of each assignment, the gallant pilots of Squadron ELEVEN conducted daring, lone patrols regardless of weather in a continuous coverage of this area, intercepting and attacking so effectively as to inflict substantial damage on hostile combat and other shipping to deny the enemy the sea route between New Ireland and New Britain Islands and thus prevent the reinforcing of important Japanese bases. The splendid record of this combat group is a tribute to the courageous fighting spirit of its officers and men and reflects the highest credit upon the United States Naval Service. In a letter sent by the U.S. Navy Department, Melvin Charles Hohnbaum was named as one of the seven men entitled to wear the Presidential Unit Citation medal presented to the VP 11 squadron (photo 4). WWII PERSONAL MEMORIES During a conversation with his cousin Charles Benard Knorr (WWII U.S. Navy and one of the youngest surviving veterans), Melvin Hohnbaum commented that from the blister of the PBY-5 aircraft, the enemy aircraft fire seemed as big as automobiles flying past. Melvin told his daughter Diane that his strategy as the waist gunner was to wait until the enemy aircraft was at close range and beginning to enter a rolling turn before firing the .50 Browning machine gun because that was the time the enemy was blind and exposed. For the VP11 squadron reunion in 1977, the WWII veterans were asked about their memories of WWII. Melvin replied, Who can forget those wonderful tours of duty at Perth, Australia? WWII COMBAT DEPLOYMENT The VP 11 squadron returned to NAS San Diego, CA in December 1944 as a veteran of Naval campaigns from Kaneohe Bay to Leyte Gulf over a 35-month period. A summation of their accomplishments includes the following: * First complete Patrol Squadron to be deployed to the South Pacific * Received the first shots of WWII from the Japanese and probably suffered the first U.S. casualty of the Pacific theatre * First to arrive for second deployment* Spent the longest time, and completed more missions (traditional patrol and Black Cat) than any other squadron * Flew an estimated 48,000 hours in combat areas * Successfully performed the longest torpedo attack against the enemy in history (900 nautical miles) * 21(estimated) survivors rescued from the open sea; 17 (estimated) by landing in sheltered waters; 25 wounded Marines and the crew of a C-47 saved by sacrificing a PBY on reef until a destroyer arrived * 219 Australians evacuated from behind enemy lines with 17 river landings * Ranks among the top 3 Patrol Squadrons in tonnage of enemy shipping destroyed or disabled * Had 31 who lost their lives or were missing in action * Had 9 taken prisoner by the Japanese-two died while in prison. After the attack the VP 11 squadron was reformed at NAS San Diego CA. Melvin C. Hohnbaum was assigned to VP11 and became part of the squadron that returned to NAS Kaneohe Bay on April 2, 1942 before combat deployment in the Southwest Pacific area. PRE-WWII MILITARY SERVICE 2nd enlistment: March 30, 1937-July 26, 1939, Hawaiian Division 11th Tank Company. Schofield Barracks, Oahu, HI, Tank commander with the rank of Corporal. Honorable Discharge Melvin was the third generation of the HOHNBAUM family to enlist in the U.S. military since the Johann Conrad Hohnbaum family arrived in America during May 1852 from Rodach, Saxe-Coburg Germany (photo 8). His grandfather, Charles F. Hohnbaum and great uncle William H. Hohnbaum served in the Union Army during the Civil War. Charles F. Hohnbaum, 2nd MD Eastern Division and Co.D, 148th and Co.H, 53rd PA Infantry, fought at Gettysburg, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, and Appomattox. William H. Hohnbaum served in the Battery L 3rd PA Artillery at Fort Monroe, Virginia and Appomattox. 17 members of the HOHNBAUM family were listed on the WWI draft register of 1917-1918. Melvin Hohnbaums great great great grandfather, Absalom CASE, was an American Revolutionary War patriot who served in the New York Ulster Loyal Guard, July 26, 1776-July 1779. CIVILIAN LIFE After graduation from Norfolk High School, Norfolk, NE in 1935, Melvin left his Norfolk Daily Newspaper carrier job and joined the Civilian Conservation Corp to work on a park improvement project in Ponca, Nebraska, June 1935-August 29, 1935. On December 23, 1935 Melvin enlisted in the U.S. Army. After bidding his family and friends good-bye, he headed first to Fort Crook, NE and then later to the tropical climate of Hawaii on assignment to the Hawaiian Division (also known as the Pineapple Army) at Schofield Barracks, HI. In 1939, Hohnbaum left Hawaii and settled in Southern California. He began his career with the U.S. Post Office, South Gate, CA station for the next 2 and one-quarter years, June 1940-October 15, 1942. During this period, he married Lucy Gene Hohnbaum and remained a devoted husband during his lifetime. After WWII began in the Pacific, Melvin Hohnbaum enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve. Dates of active service: October 20, 1942-September 24, 1945. At the end of WWII, Melvin returned to the U.S. Post Office, South Gate, CA station, where he remained until his retirement on January 31, 1975 as Assistant Station Manager. Upon his retirement, Melvin C Hohnbaum received a plaque from the South Gate Branch 3826 of the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) with the inscription: Presented to M.C.,Bud, Hohnbaum in honor of his retirement and in recognition of being the first South Gate Letter Carrier to retire as a supervisor. Dated January 31, 1975, South Gate Branch 3826 The final years of his life were spent with his wife and family in Anaheim, CA and traveling around the U.S. in an RV. He was also active as a life member in the Veterans of Foreign Wars Association (VFW) South Gate, CA post and VP-VPB 11 Association . THE LAST ROLL CALL He is survived by two daughters, Carol Jean Hoisington and Diane Lee Hohnbaum; grandchildren, Wayne Lance and Brenda Dawn Hoisington; great grandchildren Susan Idamae McAlister and Joshua Levi Hoisington; nieces and nephews Judith, Sandra, Patricia, David and Douglas Fleury. REST IN ETERNAL PEACE AMERICAN HEROS Testimonials: In Honor of Melvin Charles Hohnbam, Loyal Patriot; Faithful Husband; Devoted Father, Grandfather, and Great Grandfather. May you rest in eternal peace in the knowledge you will always be in the hearts and mind of your family.
Your Loving Daughters
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