Donald Hoobler
Encyclopedia
Corporal Donald B. Hoobler (1923 - January 3, 1945) was a non-commissioned officer
who served with the Ohio National Guard
from 1940–1941, and later serving with Easy Company
, 2nd Battalion
, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment
, in the 101st Airborne Division
of the United States Army during World War II
. Hoobler was portrayed in the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers by Peter McCabe.
. He had one sister; Mary Kathryn Lane, and a brother; John R. Hoobler. Hoobler graduated from Manchester High School in 1940.
on October 15, 1940. He discharged in November 1941 and was sent home from training at Camp Shelby
, located in Mississippi
, due to his father's death. He then enlisted in the U.S. Army on July 22, 1942 at Fort Thomas, Kentucky
and became a member of Easy Company.
During World War II
, he served with Easy Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment
, of 2nd Battalion in the 101st Airborne Division. He partook in the D-Day, Operation Market Garden
, and the Battle of the Bulge
, where he died of a non-combat related injury. On January 3, 1945 at Bastogne
, Cpl. Hoobler was killed when a pistol he had taken from a dead German snagged on a piece of barbed wire
, causing it to fire. The bullet entered his thigh, severing a major artery, and he died of blood loss.
According to Private First Class David Kenyon Webster
, a fellow soldier in the same platoon, Hoobler enthusiastically enjoyed the war.
in 1976, aged 83. Donald's brother John served in the US Navy during the last months of the war. Afterwards he too moved to Port Richey, and died in July, 1997.
Non-commissioned officer
A non-commissioned officer , called a sub-officer in some countries, is a military officer who has not been given a commission...
who served with the Ohio National Guard
Ohio National Guard
The Ohio National Guard comprises:* Ohio Army National Guard* Ohio Air National Guard-External links:* compiled by the United States Army Center of Military History...
from 1940–1941, and later serving with Easy Company
E Company, 506th Infantry Regiment (United States)
Easy Company, 2nd Battalion of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, the "Screaming Eagles", is one of the most well-known companies in the United States Army. Their experiences in World War II are the subject of the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers based on the book...
, 2nd Battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment
506th Parachute Infantry Regiment
The 506th Infantry Regiment is a unit assigned to the 4th Brigade Combat Team of the 101st Airborne Division. During World War II, the unit was designated the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment ....
, in the 101st Airborne Division
101st Airborne Division
The 101st Airborne Division—the "Screaming Eagles"—is a U.S. Army modular light infantry division trained for air assault operations. During World War II, it was renowned for its role in Operation Overlord, the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944, in Normandy, France, Operation Market Garden, the...
of the United States Army during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Hoobler was portrayed in the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers by Peter McCabe.
Youth
Hoobler was born in 1923 to Ralph B. Hoobler and Kathryn (Carrigan) Hoobler in Manchester, OhioManchester, Ohio
Manchester is a village in Adams County, Ohio, United States, along the Ohio River. As of the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 2,043....
. He had one sister; Mary Kathryn Lane, and a brother; John R. Hoobler. Hoobler graduated from Manchester High School in 1940.
Military service
Hoobler served in the Ohio National GuardOhio Army National Guard
The Ohio Army National Guard is a part of the United States National Guard and a reserve component of the United States Army. It is also a component of the organized militia of the state of Ohio, which also includes the Ohio Naval Militia, the Ohio Military Reserve and the Ohio Air National Guard...
on October 15, 1940. He discharged in November 1941 and was sent home from training at Camp Shelby
Camp Shelby
Camp Shelby is a military post whose North Gate begins at the southern boundary of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, on United States Highway 49. It is the largest state owned training site in the nation. During wartime, the camp's mission is to serve as a major, independent mobilization station of the...
, located in Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
, due to his father's death. He then enlisted in the U.S. Army on July 22, 1942 at Fort Thomas, Kentucky
Fort Thomas, Kentucky
Fort Thomas is a city in Campbell County, Kentucky, on the southern bank of the Ohio River and the site of an 1890 US Army post. The population was 16,325 at the 2010 census, making it the largest city in Campbell County and it is officially part of the Cincinnati – Northern Kentucky metropolitan...
and became a member of Easy Company.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he served with Easy Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment
E Company, 506th Infantry Regiment (United States)
Easy Company, 2nd Battalion of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, the "Screaming Eagles", is one of the most well-known companies in the United States Army. Their experiences in World War II are the subject of the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers based on the book...
, of 2nd Battalion in the 101st Airborne Division. He partook in the D-Day, Operation Market Garden
Operation Market Garden
Operation Market Garden was an unsuccessful Allied military operation, fought in the Netherlands and Germany in the Second World War. It was the largest airborne operation up to that time....
, and the Battle of the Bulge
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive , launched toward the end of World War II through the densely forested Ardennes mountain region of Wallonia in Belgium, hence its French name , and France and...
, where he died of a non-combat related injury. On January 3, 1945 at Bastogne
Bastogne
Bastogne Luxembourgish: Baaschtnech) is a Walloon municipality of Belgium located in the province of Luxembourg in the Ardennes. The municipality of Bastogne includes the old communes of Longvilly, Noville, Villers-la-Bonne-Eau, and Wardin...
, Cpl. Hoobler was killed when a pistol he had taken from a dead German snagged on a piece of barbed wire
Barbed wire
Barbed wire, also known as barb wire , is a type of fencing wire constructed with sharp edges or points arranged at intervals along the strand. It is used to construct inexpensive fences and is used atop walls surrounding secured property...
, causing it to fire. The bullet entered his thigh, severing a major artery, and he died of blood loss.
According to Private First Class David Kenyon Webster
David Kenyon Webster
-External links:*...
, a fellow soldier in the same platoon, Hoobler enthusiastically enjoyed the war.
Burial
Hoobler was buried at Manchester Cemetery next to his mother, Kathryn (Carrigan) Hoobler; who died at her daughter's home in Port Richey, FloridaFlorida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
in 1976, aged 83. Donald's brother John served in the US Navy during the last months of the war. Afterwards he too moved to Port Richey, and died in July, 1997.