This is amazing film of a man who made the ultimate sacrifice. He was the first and only Marine Corps division commander to be killed in any war. He was also the first American general officer to be killed in Vietnam. Original scripts included. This was front page news when his helicopter exploded. Our scripts say it was shot down but there is no evidence that it was. Jeff Zevely interviewed his daughter Lynn in 2023 and showed her our archive film that we recently digitized. The Marine Corps Recruit Depot's new bulldog mascot is named after Hochmuth--remembered and honored decades later. September 1, 1965 With marines pouring into the San Diego Recruit Depot in increasing numbers to meet the demands of the Vietnam War, the training program was streamlined today from 12 to 8 weeks. How this will be accomplished was explained by the Recruit Depot commander, Major General Bruno Hochmuth. March 13, 1967 Sincere farewells at Lindbergh Field for Marine Major General Bruno Hochmuth, former commanding officer at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot. Hochmuth boarded a commercial airliner for a flight to Honolulu, then Vietnam. Major General Lowell English accompanied several staff officers, Mrs. Hochmuth, and the general’s 17-year-old daughter Lynn, to the airport yesterday to see Hochmuth off on his new assignment. Hochmuth has been assigned commanding officer of the 3rd Marine Division now serving in the Demilitarized Zone in Vietnam. General English succeeded him in his post at MCRD. General Hochmuth will have a day and a half stopover in Honolulu before proceeding to the war zone. November 17, 1967 The body of Major General Bruno A. Hochmuth, who commanded the Marine Recruit Depot here for three years…and more recently the 3rd marine division in Vietnam…lies in state tonight at Bonham Brothers Mortuary, 1770 4th Avenue in downtown San Diego. A marine honor guard stands watch over the casket as scores of San Diegans pay their last respects to the memory of an honored San Diego citizen and marine officer. General Hochmuth was killed in the crash of a marine helicopter. His body lay in state until 830 tonight and again from 8 am until eleven tomorrow morning. Funeral services are scheduled at 1:30 at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot chapel, tomorrow with interment to follow at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery. It was learned tonight that General Wallace Greene Jr., commandant of the Marine Corps, will be here for the funeral. Honorary pallbearers include Lt. General Victor Krulak. November 18, 1967 The band played Ruffles and Flourishes and a gun battery sounded a 13 gun salute for the brief ceremonies at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot. General Hochmuth knew the depot well…he had commanded it for three years prior to taking command of the 3rd Marine Division in Vietnam. That was seven months ago. Last Tuesday, his helicopter went down near Hue, ending a 32 year marine career for the 57 year old General. Many high-ranking Marines…personal friends of Hochmuth’s took time out from their duties to pay last tributes. At 2 Saturday afternoon, hundreds of persons joined the funeral procession to Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery. The Reverend Ellis Shaw, pastor of Brooklyn Heights Presbyterian Church, eulogized General Hochmuth as a “dedicated American and sincere Christian.” “The General was a splendid combination of gentleness and firmness, determination and dedication.” The Reverend said although General Hochmuth was a gentle man—“because there was a war in Vietnam, he did what had to be done.” His friends pointed out that Hochmuth had asked to be assigned to Vietnam duty for six months before he got his wish. Major General Lowell E. English, the man who succeeded Hochmuth as commander at MCRD was the escort commander for the casket. With the flag draped casket in place at the gravesite, a firing squad of seven marines fired three volleys. The General’s grave is located on the eastern slope of Point Loma overlooking San Diego Bay and North Island. His final resting place is a short distance from where he stood last January 14th and commanded troops at the grave side services for retired Marine General Holland M. Smith. Hochmuth’s daughter Lynn wept as the flag covering the casket was presented to her mother. Lieutenant General Richard G. Weede accepted the flag after it was folded and gave it to General Wallace M. Greene, the Commandant of the Marine Corps. And then the nation’s number one Marine handed the flag to Mary Hochmuth. Also attending the ceremony with Mrs. Hochmuth and her daughter were Major General Hochmuth’s parents from Houston, Texas. November 27, 1967 Major General Lowell English explained seven posthumous decorations—including the Distinguished Service Medal--presented to Mrs. Bruno Hochmuth.