Interview of Vernuce A. Hoffke re background, military service and relatives

FD-302 (REV. 11-27-70)

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

1 Date of transcription 10/26/76

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VERNUCE A. HOFFKE was interviewed at the Lafayette Resident Agency and after being advised of the identity of interviewing Agents and the reason for the interview HOFFKE was presented a Waiver of Rights Form which he read and signed and furnished the following information:

HOFFKE advised that in 1953 he enlisted in the U. S. Army and was sent to Medical School at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and subsequently went overseas to Korea and served as Ambulance Driver and Aideman with the Seventh Division of the U. S. Army. HOFFKE advised that he returned to the Continental United States in 1955 and was placed in the Eighth Division of the U. S. Army and served in the Quarter Master Branch and was then transferred to the Ninth Division Army where he served in the Ordnance Branch. HOFFKE advised that in 1957 he received an Honorable Discharge from the Military and he returned to his home in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and got a job driving an Over The Road Diesel Truck.

HOFFKE stated that in [redacted] he was married to a [redacted] from Sheldon, Iowa, and that he was married approximately [redacted] and then he and his wife [redacted] currently lives in Sheldon, Iowa, and could be contacted through [redacted].

HOFFKE continued that in 1964 he returned to Military Service as an E-2 and went through basic training at Fort Ord, California, and subsequently was shipped to Fort Hood, Texas, where he was assigned in the Ordnance Branch at Fort Hood, Texas. HOFFKE stated that he stayed at Fort Hood, Texas, and in the Army until he was arrested in 1965 for armed robbery and that at this time he was given a Dishonorable Discharge from the Army and was convicted in Louisiana for armed robbery of a filling station and subsequently served four years at Angola State Prison in Louisiana and DeQuincy, Louisiana. HOFFKE stated that he was released in 1969 on parole from prison and since

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Interviewed on 10/19/76 at Lafayette, Louisiana File # NO 164-136-118

by SA [redacted] SA [redacted] CGV:ebc Date dictated 10/20/76

This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. It is the property of the FBI and is loaned to your agency; it and its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency.

DB COOPER-54783 [illegible handwritten annotation] 164-81 7721 [illegible handwritten numbers/text]

2 NO 164-136 CGV:ebc

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that time he has no arrest or convictions. HOFFKE stated that at no time while he was in the Military did he ever participate in any parachute training and that he has never jumped from a parachute in his life and would not even know how to put on a parachute.

HOFFKE continued that upon his release from prison he went to work for Lake Charles Dredging and Towing and worked as an Oiler in the Engine Room and kept this job until the early part of 1971 and at this time he went to work for [redacted] of Franks Flower Express Company and worked as a truck driver driving across country. HOFFKE advised that he kept this job until December, 1971, or January, 1972, and then he went to work for Williams Drilling Company in Baton Rouge and worked for approximately four months for them as a rough- neck in the oil fields. HOFFKE advised that his employ- ment with [redacted] could be confirmed at the Durall Franks Express Office in Beaumont, Texas, and that his employment with Williams Drilling Company in Baton Rouge could be confirmed with their office in Baton Rouge.

HOFFKE continued that after he left Williams Drilling Company he went to work with Chaffin Workover in New Iberia, Louisiana, for about four months and worked as a motorman and subsequently quit this job and went to work with Penrod in Lafayette, Louisiana, for three or four months as a roughneck in the oil fields. HOFFKE stated that in approximately 1973 he went to work with Carr Truck Lines and worked for only one month as a truck driver and then quit this job to go to work for H. T. I. as an oil field laborer and worked with H. T. I. in Lafayette for approximately three months. HOFFKE stated that he then left H. T. I. and went to work with DSE, an oil company out of Omaha, Nebraska, whose headquarters are now in Little Rock, Arkansas, and he stayed on this job for approximately eleven months and then went to work with Dove Well Service for eight months in Lafayette. HOFFKE advised that after this he went to work for Brazzel Well Service in New Iberia, Louisiana, and also worked at this job for about eight months until he got a job with Homco in January of 1976 and continues to maintain this position

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DB COOPER-54784

3 NO 164-136 CGV:ebc

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as a fishing tool supervisor with Homco until the present time.

At this time HOFFKE provided the following list of relatives:

Father JOHN HOFFKE, SR., Residing Lengley, Minnesota;

Stepmother ELEANOR HOFFKE, Residing Lengley, Minnesota;

Brothers JOHN HOFFKE, JR., Residing in Minneapolis, Minnesota;

Half-brother [redacted] Washington;

Sister [redacted] Residing in California;

Sister FAYE SWANGLER, Residing in Grand Forks, North Dakota, last visited her in 1972;

Sister BETTY HOFFKE (Last Name Unknown), Due to several marriages, residing in Grand Forks, North Dakota, last visited in 1972.

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HOFFKE advised that he had not seen his sister [redacted] since 1963 when she resided in Las Vegas, Nevada, and that he visited her on one occasion in 1963, however, he understands that she currently resides in California, exact city unknown, and he has had no contact with her since 1963.

HOFFKE advised that he has no knowledge whatso- ever of any hijacking of an aircraft and that he definitely

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DB COOPER-54785

could account for his presence during Thanksgiving of 1971 in that he was working for [REDACTED] at this time and that records and driver's log books for that time would account for his presence.

The following description was obtained through observation and interview:

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NAME VERNUCE A. HOFFKE Race White Sex Male Date of Birth January 25, 1937 Place of Birth Munich, North Dakota Address 1407 University Avenue, Lafayette, Louisiana Wife WILDA JACKSON HOFFKE Height 5'11" Weight 215 pounds Hair Dark brown Eyes Blue Scars Scar on forehead approximately one inch long Social Security Account Number 517-38-7291 Arrest 1965 for armed robbery.