World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
Joseph D. Hill
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Pulaski County, Illinois
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
RANK: PRIVATE. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE U.S. ARMY AUGUST 28, 1940 AT EAST SAINT LOUIS, ILLINOIS. SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS ASSIGNED TO THE 502ND PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 101ST AIRBORNE ‘SCREAMING EAGLES’ DIVISION. A PARATROOPER WHO JUMPED INTO FRANCE IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS ON D-DAY, JUNE 6, 1944, OPERATION OVERLORD, THE INVASION OF GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE. DECLARED MISSING IN ACTION THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 1945 AND IS MEMORIALIZED AT THE NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY, COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, FRANCE. DECORATIONS AND MEDALS: BRONZE STAR, AWARDED FOR BRAVERY, ACT OF MERIT AND MERITORIOUS ACHIEVEMENT AND THE PURPLE HEART. HIS DIVISION WAS AWARDED A PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION, MERITORIOUS UNIT COMMENDATION, FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM, BELGIAN CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM, BELGIAN FOURRAGERE OF 1940 AND THE ORANGE LANYARD OF THE ROYAL NETHERLANDS ARMY FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION AGAINST THE GERMAN ARMED FORCES.