World War II Honoree

Ernest Ramirez Hill

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Alamogordo, New Mexico

Honored By

Benjamin Hill

Relationship

Nephew

INDUCTED AUGUST 12, 1942. BASIC TRAINING AT FORT BLISS, TEXAS. ASSIGNED TO 447TH ANTI-AIRCRAFT ARTILLERY AUTOMATIC WEAPONS BATTALION. TRAINED IN YUMA, ARIZONA FOR FIGHTING IN NORTH AFRICA. AFTER BEING ASSIGNED TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT PLACES ALONG THE EAST COAST, HE SAILED FROM CAMP SHANKS IN NEW YORK TO ENGLAND. ON JUNE 6, 1944 LANDED AT OMAHA BEACH IN NORMANDY WITH AN ADVANCE PARTY. AFTER D-DAY, WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 28TH INFANTRY DIVISION AND SENT TO ST. LO. PARTICIPATED IN THE BATTLE OF HURTGEN FOREST. ON DECEMBER 16, 1944 WAS IN LUXEMBOURG FOR THE ARDENNES OFFENSIVE. CROSSED THE RHINE RIVER. RECEIVED A UNIT COMMENDATION. WAS ALSO ELIGIBLE FOR A PURPLE HEART MEDAL BUT REFUSED IT. RECEIVED THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER MEDAL WITH 5 BATTLE STARS AND ARROWHEAD. HONORABLE DISCHARGE; SEPTEMBER 1945.