Lieutenant Junior Grade Hoff was the pilot of a F9F-2P Pantherjet photographic fighter with Detachment H, Composite Squadron 61, aboard carrier USS Valley Forge (CV-45). On 11 March 1952, while on a photographic mission 13 miles west of Jangdok, North Korea, his aircraft was struck by anti-aircraft fire, crashed and exploded. His remains were not recovered.

For his leadership and valor, Lieutenant Junior Grade Hoff was awarded the Silver Star Medal, the Air Medal, the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.