Sponsored by:

Navy Federal Credit Union
Jacob
Donald
Hockman
1879-08-21

–

1959-10-22

Born:

Franklin County

, 

Pennsylvania

Home:

Altoona

, 

Pennsylvania

Buried: 

Arlington

, 

Virginia

Cemetery:

Arlington National Cemetery

Jacob Hockman graduated from Mercersburg (Pennsylvania) Academy, and then attended Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He left Dickinson early to become assistant postmaster in his hometown of Waynesboro, but after several years he enrolled at Drew Theological Seminary. Upon graduation he was ordained a Methodist-Episcopal priest and served as pastor of the PeopleÕs Methodist-Episcopal Church in Reading, Pennsylvania. In 1917 he resigned his pastorate to enlist for military service in the U.S. Army Ambulance Corps. Before being deployed to France, however, on October 5, 1917, he was commissioned a U.S. Army chaplain, serving overseas with the 55th Infantry Regiment of the 7th Division. He continued in military service as a chaplain after the war ended, and retired 1945 as a major. He then served as a substitute pastor for several churches near his home in Greencastle, Pennsylvania.

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Chaplain’s Corps)

    Regiment:

    55th Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    7th Division, American Expeditionary Forces

    Action Date:

    World War I
    Headquarters, 7th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, Citation Orders

    By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), First Lieutenant (Chaplain’s Corps) Jacob Donald Hockman (ASN: 0-8623), United States Army, is cited by the Commanding General of the 7th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, for gallantry in action and a silver star may be placed upon the ribbon of the Victory Medals awarded him. Chaplain Hockman distinguished himself by gallantry in action while serving as Chaplain with the 55th Infantry Regiment, 7th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in France, during World War I.