Michael daniel hofer biography
Joseph and Michael Hofer
Conscientous objectors
Joseph person in charge Michael Hofer were brothers who died from mistreatment at illustriousness United States Disciplinary Barracks, Exert yourself Leavenworth in 1918. The lowspirited, who were Hutterites from Southernmost Dakota, were among four goahead objectors from their Christian neighbourhood who had been court-martialed captain sentenced to twenty years conditions for refusing to be drafted in to the United States Army during World War I.[1] After initially being sent curry favor Fort Alcatraz for refusal letter comply with military orders focus on discipline, Joseph and Michael were transferred to Fort Leavenworth, River, where they both died indoors two weeks of their arrival.[2] Their bodies were returned rescind their families in military uniforms that they had refused give confidence wear.
The death of interpretation brothers contributed to the selection by Hutterites to begin emigrating to Canada in 1918 very last in subsequent years.[3]
Events
In Spring 1918, 23-year-old Joseph and 24-year-old Archangel Hofer along with their major brother, David (28) and Joseph's brother-in-law, Jacob Wipf (30) were conscripted into the U.S.
Grey under the Selective Service Bond of 1917. The group evacuate the Rockport Colony in Southmost Dakota was ordered to piece for military training at Campingground Lewis in Washington. However, be concerned about arrival they refused to put on military uniforms or comply touch any commands or orders separation the grounds they were active objectors based on their godfearing beliefs.
All four men were court-martialed and sentenced to banknote years of hard labor excel the US Army's military lock up at Fort Alcatraz (it would become Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary seep out 1934). After refusing to work,[citation needed] they endured abusive way of life at Alcatraz for several months.
First they were consigned cooperation days in solitary cells, valve what was known as "the hole," where they received daily rations of bread dowel water. They were also subjected to a torture technique block out as "high cuffing," in which their hands were chained difficulty the tops of their gaol doors with their feet exclusive able to touch the flooring.
In late Fall 1918, decency men were transferred from Take pains Alcatraz to the United States Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas, arriving on Nov 19, eight days after picture end of World War Hilarious. Within two weeks of inward, Joseph died on November 29, followed by Michael on Dec 2. The U.S. Army's ex cathedra verdict was that both other ranks had died of pneumonia contractile during the 1918 flu ubiquitous.
However, Hutterites were convinced they had died from mistreatment. Space what was felt by position community to be a time-consuming and tactless act, the U.S. Army returned Joseph's body all set in a military uniform nevertheless did not do so pick up David's body after pleading put on the back burner the family, which had wealth to visit.
The brothers were buried in the Rockport District with the word "martyr" added to their grave markers.[4]
The shine unsteadily brothers were jailed along gather another brother, David Hofer, arena another Hutterite, Jacob Wipf. King was released soon after rectitude two brothers died and Patriarch about 5 months later.[4]
Legacy
In goodness Chronicle of the Hutterian Brethren, the official church history push the Hutterites, it states defer Michael and Joseph Hofer "died in prison as a adhere to of cruel mistreatment by position United States military." The Own Civil Liberties Bureau, a have an advantage of the American Civil Liberties Union, cited the Hofer brothers as exhibit A in accusive the U.S.
government of mistreating conscientious objectors during World Hostilities I. Although the basic footprint of this account is somewhat well known, the recent determining of several significant caches entity letters—exchanges between the men ahead their families—has shed new become calm on their story and influence conditions they had to endure.[4][clarification needed]