The Green Bay Packers and WPS Health Solutions paid special tribute to Lieutenant Max Hofer and his family during Sunday's Packers-Falcons game for 'Operation Fan Mail.'
The Middleton, Wis., native has been serving in the U.S. Navy for more than three years. He graduated from Officer Development School in 2015, and upon completion of advanced training, he was assigned with the Air Force for Pacific Angel 16-3 in Sri Lanka.
Upon return, he volunteered to be assigned with Combat Logistics Battalion-15 and deployed with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit. He recently returned from deployment, and is currently stationed in San Diego, where he serves as a division officer at Naval Base Center San Diego.
Hofer has been honored with a variety of awards, including Navy and Marine Corps Achievement, National Defense Service and Global War on Terrorism medals.
A lifelong Packers fan, Hofer attended Sunday's game with his wife, Molly, his father, John – who is a retired army combat medic who served in the Vietnam War – and his mother, Beverly. Three generations of the Hofer family have served in the military, including Max Hofer's grandfather, Staff Sergeant Herman Maximilian Hofer, who served in World War II.
Operation Fan Mail, which debuted in 2007, is designed to honor families with a member who is on active duty, or a member who is a veteran. The family member can be a spouse, mother, father, son, daughter or sibling. The Packers and WPS Health Solutions will host a family at each 2018 home game and recognize them on the field during pregame activities. A total of 116 individuals or families have been recognized through the program thus far.
To choose families, the Packers and WPS Health Solutions are asking interested families, or friends of eligible families, to submit an essay, 500 words or less, on why a particular fan should be saluted next season. Essays can be sent to: Operation Fan Mail, P.O. Box 10628, Green Bay, WI, 54307-0628 or submitted online at nfl.packers.com/gameday/gamedaypromotions/operationfanmail/.
In addition to being recognized on-field prior to the game, selected families receive four tickets to the game.
