World War II Honoree

Charles M. Hill

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Montrose, Colorado

Honored By

Ida & Charles Johnson

Relationship

Sister & Brother-in-Law

RANK: TECHNICIAN 5TH GRADE. ENTERED THE U.S. ARMY MARCH 23, 1943 AND RECEIVED HIS TRAINING AT FORT SILL OKLAHOMA, IRON MOUNTAIN, CALIFORNIA AND FORT LEONARD WOOD, MISSOURI. SERVED AS A WIREMAN IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS, ASSIGNED TO CHARLIE BATTERY, 978TH FIELD ARTILLERY (155 MM GUN) BATTALION, 119TH FIELD ARTILLERY GROUP, ATTACHED TO THE 19TH CORPS, 1ST U.S. ARMY AND LATER THE 9TH ARMY. HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE VAST ARMADA THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION OF GERMAN’S FORTRESS EUROPE, ENTERING COMBAT JUNE 26, 1944. CAMPAIGNS: NORMANDY, NORTHERN FRANCE, ARDENNES-ALSACE, RHINELAND AND CENTRAL EUROPE. MAJOR BATTLES: BATTLE OF THE BULGE, CRACKING OF THE ‘WEST WALL’, KNOWN AS THE ‘SIEGFRIED LINE’, ROER DAMS, CROSSING THE ROER AND RHINE RIVERS. SERVED WITH THE OCCUPATION FORCES IN GERMANY AFTER ALL HOSTILITIES HAD CEASED WITH THE GERMAN ARMED FORCES. DECORATIONS: ARMY GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 5 BRONZE BATTLE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, MARKSMAN BADGE WITH THE M 1 AND CARBINE BARS AND THE HONORABLE LAPEL BUTTON. FOREIGN DECORATION: THE FRENCH JUBILEE MEDAL. HE WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED NOVEMBER 4, 1945 AT FORT LOGAN, COLORADO.