World War II Honoree

Clair A. Hill

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Redding, California

Honored By

Vince Rybel

Relationship

Co-worker

OBTAINED A ROTC COMMISSION FROM THE U.S. ARMY UPON GRADUATION FROM STANFORD UNIVERSITY. CALLED TO ACTIVE DUTY AT THE START OF THE WAR. EARLY DUTY WAS FOR 18 MONTHS AS AN ENGINEERING OFFICER FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE BENICIA ARSENAL IN CALIFORNIA. FROM THERE HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO ABERDEEN, MARYLAND FOR EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE DEMOLITION TRAINING AND THEN OVERSEAS TO THE NORTH PACIFIC. SERVED IN THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS, THE LAST 13 MONTHS OF THE WAR, AS THE COMMANDER OF A 400 MAN ORDNANCE BATTALION ON THE ISLAND OF ADAK. AFTER THE SURRENDER OF JAPAN, RETURNED TO CALIFORNIA AND RECEIVED AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE FROM THE U.S. ARMY.