About the Hoback Boys-- Part 1: Why They Joined the National Guard

From the  DDay.org site.  National D-Day Memorial.

Bedford and Raymond Hoback were one of 33 sets of brothers fighting together on the beaches of D-Day, June 6, 1944.  Of those 33 sets, three were sets of brothers from Bedford, Virginia.  (the Stevens twins and Powers boys).    They were part of Company A, 116th Regiment,  29th Infantry Division.

This is the story as told by Mrs. Lucille Boggess, sister of Raymond and Bedford.

My two brothers, Bedford and Raymond,  joined the National Guard, but the attraction was not financial.  The thing that drew them-- drew Bedford anyway-- was the idea of service.  He believed in it.  I should tell you that when Bedford joined the National Guard, he was no boy.

He found military service to be something he wanted to do-- not full time, of course, but once every few days it felt pretty good.  I think he liked the order the military represented, its discipline, teamwork, and fellowship.

Raymond's  motivation may not have been so well informed, but I must tell you that he too-- was a man.  Although four years younger than Bedford, he was not a kid, but he did have a kid brother's admiration  of his older brother, and that is probably why he came to the Guard.  And I think he liked to dress up in his uniform--  he liked to look and feel like a soldier.

--GreGen