Name:
Robert Harold Hill
Rank:
Corporal
Serial Number:
15077968
Unit:
551st Parachute Regiment
Date of Death:
1945-01-07
State:
Ohio
Cemetery:
Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery, Belgium
Plot:
C
Row:
8
Grave:
43
Decoration:
Distinguished Service Cross, Purple Heart
Comments:
Robert Harold Hill was born in 1921 in Stark County, Ohio. He enlisted on June 20, 1942, at Fort Hayes (Ohio). On January 7, 1945, Hill was killed while serving in Company A of the 551st Parachute Infantry Battalion. He exposed himself to German fire in order to provide covering fire with his Browning Automatic Rifle in order to allow the rest of his unit to withdraw to a more secure position. Although his actions earned him s Silver Star, General Matthew B. Ridgway personally intervened and upgraded his decoration to the Distinguished Service Cross.