World War II Honoree

Robert Harry Hill

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

St. Joseph, Missouri

Honored By

Irene, Steve, Vicki, Pam, Brian & Grandchildren

ENLISTED IN ARMY SIGNAL CORPS AT KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI ON AUGUST 3, 1942 ONE MONTH PRIOR TO HIS 20TH BIRTHDAY. SWORN IN AT JEFFERSON BARRACKS, MISSOURI. COMPLETED BASIC TRAINING AT CAMP CROWDER NEAR NEOSHO, MISSOURI AND THEN SENT TO KANSAS CITY FOR ADDITIONAL TRAINING AT CENTRAL RADIO SCHOOL. ORDERED TO FORT MEADE, MARYLAND FOR INDOCTRINATION PRIOR TO ASSIGNMENT TO PRESQUE ISLE, MAINE AS INTERCEPT RADIO OPERATOR FOR FOREIGN CODE (GERMANY AND ITALY). ASSIGNED TO 136TH RADIO SECURITY SECTION ATTACHED TO THE ARMY AIR CORPS. IN MARCH 1944 THE UNIT WAS RE DESIGNATED AS 8TH RADIO SECURITY SECTION. SENT TO CAMP STONEMAN AT PITTSBURG, CALIFORNIA FOR OVERSEAS ASSIGNMENT. DEPARTED UNITED STATES FOR PACIFIC THEATER ON APRIL 9, 1944. PARTICIPATED IN NEW GUINEA AND SOUTHERN PHILIPPINE ISLANDS CAMPAIGNS. TRAVELED ABOARD THE LIBERTY SHIP 'SEA SNIPE' AND ARRIVED AT LAE, NEW GUINEA ON MAY 5, 1944. ON 10 MAY, MOVED TO NADZAB, NEW GUINEA LOCATED IN THE MARKHAM VALLEY. ASSIGNED TO THE ADVANCED ECHELON, FIFTH AIR FORCE, FOR SECURITY MONITORING. ON NOVEMBER 8, 1944, UNIT RECEIVED ORDERS MOVING TO HOLLANDIA, NEW GUINEA AND SUBSEQUENTLY ATTACHED TO THE FAR EAST AIR FORCE HEADQUARTERS. THREE MONTHS LATER, MOVED VIA AIR TO LEYTE ISLAND, PHILIPPINES AND WAS ATTACHED TO 13TH AIR FORCE FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE WAR. RETURNED TO THE UNITED STATES IN DECEMBER 1945 AND WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED AT FORT LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS; JANUARY 2, 1946. PROMOTED TO RANK OF STAFF SERGEANT. AWARDS INCLUDE: GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND PHILIPPINE LIBERATION RIBBON WITH STAR.