Martin Hoffmann Legacy
In Memoriam, Martin R. Hoffmann, Army Secretary, 1975 – 1977
Martin Richard Hoffmann, former Secretary of the Army, a tireless veterans advocate, died on Monday, July 14, 2014, at the age of 82. Among many other accomplishments, he was a core member of the Coalition seeking to use HBOT to get immediate help to the hundreds of thousands of service members and civilians suffering from brain injuries and the invisible wounds of war: Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
A guiding principle throughout Marty’s career was continual improvement in all aspects of the experience and well-being of our soldiers. From training to equipment, from health care to emotional & financial support for families, whether during active service or after discharge, Marty sought to honor their commitment to our country by securing the best for them.
Following the events of 9/11 and the beginning of the Afghan war, Marty helped to form and develop the Defense Resources Support Office – Afghanistan. It was in-country that he personally witnessed the devastating effects of IEDs and the debilitating results of TBI and PTSD. After seeing Hyperbaric Oxygen save a close friend and colleague from the ravages of both TBI and PTSD, he recognized the potential of this treatment to help hundreds of thousands of soldiers and veterans. Working with expert physicians worldwide, members of the US Congress and the Armed Services, state officials across the country and other dedicated patriots, Marty was instrumental in helping raise awareness and promoting the effective use of, and continued research about, Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment for TBI. Never was his passion for the well-being, care, and treatment of our soldiers and their families more intense than during his work on this campaign.
For Secretary Hoffmann, the service members came first. Active and effective treatment of all their wounds was his goal and he firmly believed that Hyperbaric Oxygen was a path to successful treatment of TBI.
… the effects of the TBI/PTSD epidemic will linger for years (with its epidemics of suicides and broken homes) if not confronted now . The more than 1,000 HBOT-capable clinics across the country represent a pivotal asset in addressing this, the most recent national tragedy affecting Military Wartime Wounded. Martin R. Hoffmann, Secretary of the Army (1975-1977)