World War II Honoree

Robert Edgar Hilliard

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Barberton, Ohio

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: PRIVATE 1ST CLASS. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS APRIL 29, 1942 AND PARTICIPATED IN BASIC COMBAT TRAINING AT THE MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT, PARRIS ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA. SERVED IN THE PACIFIC THEATER, WHERE HE EXPERIENCED COMBAT WITH LIMA COMPANY, 3RD BATTALION, 24TH MARINES, FOURTH MARINE ‘FIGHTING FOURTH’ DIVISION. ON THURSDAY, JUNE 15, 1944 HE PARTICIPATED IN THE BATTLE OF SAIPAN (JUNE 15-JULY 9, 1944) MARIANA ISLANDS CAMPAIGN. ON SUNDAY, JUNE 18, 1944 HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION AND BURIED IN THE ARMY BATTLEFIELD CEMETERY ON SAIPAN. AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES WITH JAPAN, HIS REMAINS WERE RETURNED TO HIS FAMILY, WITH INTERMENT IN FORT BARRANCAS NATIONAL CEMETERY BARRANCAS, FLORIDA.