News
A Warm Welcome Home For Injured Marine
By Ryan Fennell
When U.S. Marine Lance Corporal Kevin Hoffman, 21, returned home from Bethesda, Maryland after recovering from severe injuries sustained in Afghanistan he was humbled by what he saw.
A last minute parade, organized over four days and consisting of nearly 700 people and 30 vehicles from fire departments, EMS squads and police departments in the area all waited for Hoffman's arrival in Keyport to show their support for his service to his country.
Hoffman was at the front of the parade in a Sea Bright Fire Department Engine, which led the way down Highway 36 from Keyport to the tip of Sandy Hook.
"I didn't know it was going to be on that big of a scale," Hoffman said. "It was pretty overwhelming. It was very humbling."
Since returning home Hoffman has spent his days at the Sea Bright Fire Department answering EMS calls and keeping himself busy.
Hoffman has also been enjoying the summer weather and his time at home.
Hoffman was part of an offensive in Marja in the Helmand Province in Afghanistan in early February of this year.
"It was pretty heavy fighting for about a month," Hoffman said. "We spent about a month running around on the ground getting into firefights every day."
Hoffman said he carried a 240 machine gun during the battles.
"Basically, I was the showstopper," Hoffman recalled.
Hoffman was wounded on March 29 during a re-supply convey to a nearby base.
"We were doing a convoy out to one of our other bases," Hoffman said. "My vehicle was the third vehicle. I was in the turret facing the three o'clock position and my vehicle hit a 150-pound to 200-pound command detonated bomb. Somebody detonated it."
"I was thrown from the vehicle and sustained numerous injuries," Hoffman said.
Hoffman suffered a fractured tibia, torn posterior cruciate ligaments in both knees, a fractured pelvis, a fractured hip, a fractured jaw in two places, a Class 3 concussion, and a fractured L3 vertebrae.
"The vertebrae exploded," Hoffman said.
Hoffman required two surgeries to remove the vertebrae pieces and had his spine fused and rods and screws implanted. Hoffman also had a plate inserted in his jaw with four screws.
After the bomb was detonated Hoffman was transported briefly to a field hospital before being taken to Germany.
From Germany Hoffman was taken to Bethesda, Maryland where he spent two months recovering from surgery.
"I couldn't move my legs, I couldn't move anything because of my spinal injury," Hoffman said.
Hoffman then spent two more months in Richmond, Virginia where he underwent rehabilitation for his injuries.
"I still have nerve damage in my left leg. I can't move my left leg without assistance from myself. I can't feel my left leg or hip. It feels like they're asleep."
Hoffman said he also continues to suffer from back and knee pain.
Hoffman will be home for a month before heading to Quantico Marine Base where he'll work while he awaits a medical discharge.
"If I get a medical discharge I'll go back to Sea Bright to live and work," Hoffman said. "It's a great community and through the fire department and EMS I'll just be serving my community."
"I really want to thank the Middletown, Highlands and Sea Bright communities for reaching out and supporting me," Hoffman said.
