Elvin Hobbs

Elvin "Al" Roy Hobbs, age 75, passed away March 10, 2021 in El Paso, Texas - his favorite city and the place he called home - after a brave year-long battle with brain cancer. We can only imagine he is now enjoying a round of golf in heaven and looking upon all of us with a smile.



Sergeant Major Al Hobbs was born on July 8, 1945 in Reserve, New Mexico. After graduation from Valley High School in Albuquerque, he began working in a veterinarian clinic where he realized he desired a career in medicine. The veterinarian suggested that Hobbs enlist in the Army to acquire his medical education and experience. Hobbs took that advice and joined the Army Medical Corps on January 31, 1964.



He attended basic training at Fort Polk, Louisiana, followed by Advanced Individual Training (AIT) at Fort Sam, Houston, Texas where he also attended X-ray technician training. In 1965, he met the mother of his son, Mark R. Hobbs, in the state of Washington, and was delighted to become a father. He served as an X-ray technician in Fort Carson, Colorado (4th Infantry Division); Redstone Arsenal, Alabama; and ASCOM (121st Hospital, USAMEDAC) in Sin Chon, Korea (where he also was a member of the Yong Son Sky Divers Club) for more than three years before attending 91C school at William Beaumont Army Medical Center, Fort Bliss, Texas, graduating in 1967. He was a certified emergency medical technician in the state of Tennessee. In the military, Hobbs was trained as a combat medic, an operating room technician, an X-ray technician, a licensed vocational nurse, and a technician in the Brigade Combat Team Trauma Training lab. He served as the noncommissioned officer in charge of the emergency room at William Beaumont Army Medical Center from May 1967 through October 1968.



In November 1968, he became assigned as a medic to the 58th Medical Group, 133rd Medical Detachment, 11th Transportation Battalion, in Vietnam. Upon arriving to Cat Lai, Vietnam, he replaced a training obstetrician as a Specialist Six (the equivalent to a physician's assistant) and began providing care to local expecting mothers who traveled from miles away. By the end of his tour in Vietnam, Al Hobbs had delivered 58 babies - a small fraction of his duties, but one he remained proud of throughout his life. Apart from providing medical services to soldiers and locals, the medical team's key mission was in support of the Brown Water Navy, Riverine Operations in Vietnam. These included a river patrol unit, a Mike Boat unit, a Coast Guard unit and a Navy patrol boat unit. Sergeant Major Hobbs attended the First United States Army NCO Academy in Fort Knox, Kentucky in August 1970 (assigned to the 194th Armored Brigade). He graduated from the First Sergeants Course; Class #3-83 in Munich, Germany; and is a graduate of Class #26, United States Army Sergeants Major Academy, Fort Bliss, Texas. SGM Hobbs held such leadership positions as Assistant Chief Wardmaster, Operations Sergeant, and First Sergeant in many aspects of the medical field.



He completed assignments including Nuclear Surety on the USS Sturgis (Nuclear Power Barge) in Gatun Lake, Panama Canal Zone; an assignment in Antarctica; U.S. Army Hospital in Fort Campbell, Kentucky; 3rd Support BN in Bamberg and Fureth, Germany; Director of NCOES Evaluation and Standardization for the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy (where he pioneered standards for what is today the Quality Assurance Office); Student, Staff, and Faculty Battalion Commander at USASMA, Fort Bliss, Texas (where he was the driving force in the establishment and advancement of the U.S. Army Museum of the Noncommissioned Officer and served as the NCO Museum Association President); and a final assignment as BN Commander STU Staff and Faculty for the U.S. Sergeants Major Academy. During these years, he served in many elected and appointed positions within Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 8919, to include: All American and All State Post Commander (1989-1990), Post Advocate (1990-1991), and Post Junior Vice Commander (1991-1992). He was a cadre member of the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy from October 1988 until April 1993. Sergeant Major Hobbs held leadership positions at every level. His 27 years in the military were devoted to the training, development, and education of soldiers and noncommissioned officers. Though he endured some of the "aches and pains" the Army life requires, he believed his service made him a better patriot, a more caring and disciplined person, and an overall better man.



Sergeant Major Hobbs' awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (with three oak leaf clusters), Army Commendation Medal (with three oak leaf clusters), Army Achievement Medal (with five oak leaf clusters), Vietnam Service Medal (with four Battle Stars), National Defense Service Medal, Combat Medic Badge, Good Conduct Medal - 8th Award, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry (with Palm), Overseas Ribbons (with three oak leaf clusters), NCO Professional Development Ribbon (with five oak leaf clusters), Army Service Ribbon, and Airborne and Air Assault Badges.



Al married his dear Cheri on June 15, 1991, after many months of smiles and boogieing on the dance floor together, which continued through their near 30 years of marriage.



Sergeant Major Hobbs retired from the Army at Fort Bliss, Texas on July 1, 1991 after 27 years of service. Upon his retirement, SGM Hobbs continued supporting NCO professional development and learning by becoming intricately involved in the local chapter of the Association of the United States Army, serving as chapter president and board member. He was elected and served as the chairperson of the Armed Forces Division of the Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce. Over the course of 20 years, he directly supported Army programs, Academy special events, the annual Nominative Sergeant Major and Senior Enlisted Advisor Conference, and the SGM Larry L. Strickland Education Leadership Award. He also provided special recognition to students who demonstrated exceptional academic achievement as graduates of the Sergeants Major Course and the Fort Bliss NCO Academy.



Al Hobbs spent his years in the military, proudly serving his country, and spent his career, post-retirement, proudly serving soldiers through his work with Pioneer Services and out in the El Paso community. He held a bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland, was a certified financial counselor, credit reviewer, identity theft specialist, and reverse mortgage specialist. He served as the manager of Pioneer Services Mid-Country Bank, El Paso (opening the office for Pioneer in 1995), where he supported soldiers and their families through various financial decisions.



Sergeant Major Elvin "Al" Hobbs was a member of the NCOLCoE Hall of Honor, Class of 2010. He was a soldier for life and often remarked, "I love soldiers - that's who I am."



He regarded soldiers as the "finest people in the world" and it was his honor to serve them in innumerable ways over the course of his careers and personal life. He laughingly said that, in each position he held in the army, as he grew and progressed, he knew for certain he would be "irreplaceable" in his former positions only to be replaced by great leaders. Though he may be gone from this earth, he is with all of us in our hearts, and he would only hope to continue to be replaced by great leaders, irreplaceable as he will always be.



He shared the following poem by W.A. Dromgoole in one of his speeches, and it embodies Sergeant Major Al Hobbs' mentality and what he has done for the generations to follow him.



An old man going a lone highway

Came at the evening, cold and gray,

To a chasm… vast and wide and steep,

With water rolling, cold and deep.



The old man crossed in twilight dim,

The sullen stream posed no fears to him,

But he turned when safe on the other side,

And built a bridge to span the tide.



"Old man," said a fellow pilgrim near,

"You are wasting your strength with building here.

Your journey will end with the ending day,

You never again will pass this way.

You've crossed the chasm, deep and wide,

Why build this bridge at eventide?"



The old man lifted his old gray head.

"Good friend, in the path I have come,

There followeth after me today

A youth whose feet must pass this way.

The chasm that was nought to me,

To that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be;

He too, must cross in the twilight dim -

Good friend, I am building this bridge for him."



Sergeant Major Al Hobbs was a member of the Special Forces Association, a Freemason belonging to Wallace Hughston No. 1393, and, most recently, served as the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 812 Commander from 2014-2017 (before stepping down from this position to spend more time with Cheri and assume positions such as chaplain to maintain his involvement). The VFW Post 812 is where he and Cheri spent much of their time, serving soldiers and serving the community, spending time with their dear friends, and making everyone jealous of their dance moves. When he wasn't at the VFW, he was on the golf course with his buddies, enjoying every minute of it.



Al is survived by his beloved wife, Cheri Hobbs of El Paso, Texas; his son and daughter-in-law, Mark and Kimberly Hobbs; his stepson, Jimmie W. Ketcham II; his grandchildren, Nicole Ketcham, Kalia Hobbs, Evan Hobbs, Jimmie W. Ketcham III, and Maggie Ketcham; his great-grandson, Weston Kroeze; his siblings, Don Hobbs, Doris Norris, and Sharon Malone; the daughters of he and Cheri's hearts, Jeanna Parks and Mary Ann Piper; the grandchildren of their hearts, Victoria Crider, Jesi Kroeze, Candace Fields, Brian Vetter, Theresa Vetter, Robert Piper, and R.J. Henkle, as well as all of their children; his godson, George Rey; his nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and cousins - too numerous to list; countless cherished friends, and his much-loved dogs, Elvis and Little Man. He joins his daughter, Dawn Oleta Hobbs; his parents, George A. Hobbs and Dessie "Oleta" Wright; his Pa and Granny, Charlie and Ruby Hobbs; and his Granddad and Grandmother, Lonnie and Effie Wright, in heaven.



A celebration of his life will take place at the VFW Post 812 in El Paso on May 14th at 2pm. The family suggests an early arrival to the VFW to get settled before the service begins. The service taking place at Fort Bliss National Cemetery will be livestreamed to the VFW for all of his loved ones to watch in real time before the immediate family joins everyone at the VFW to continue the program together, celebrating the amazing life Al Hobbs lived and all the lives he touched.



The family welcomes donations to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in remembrance of Al's life.



- God Saw -

God saw you were getting tired,

And a cure was not to be,

So, He put his arms around you,

And whispered, "Come to me."

With tearful eyes, we watched you,

And saw you pass away.

Although we loved you dearly,

We could not make you stay.

A golden heart stopped beating,

Hard working hands at rest,

God broke our hearts to prove to us,

He only takes the best.

Service Details.
Service When
Friday, May 14, 2021 2:00pm
Location
VFW post 812
Address
2400 Davis-Seamon Rd
El Paso, Texas 79930