ˈæftɚ ɡɹˈædjuːˌeɪɾɪŋ hˈaɪ skˈuːl ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈɪfti sˈɪks, hˈɑːtʃbɹuːknɚ sˈɜːvd ɪnðə juːnˈaɪɾᵻd stˈeɪts nˈeɪvi æz ɐn ˌeɪvɪˈeɪʃən ᵻlɛktɹˈɑːnɪks tɛknˈɪʃən ʌntˈɪl hiː wʌz ˈɑːnɚɹəbli dɪstʃˈɑːɹdʒd ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈɪfti nˈaɪn.
After graduating high school in 1956, Hochbrueckner served in the United States Navy as an Aviation Electronics Technician until he was honorably discharged in 1959.