Grayson County TXGenWeb

World War II
George Russell Hill Jr.

	Ensign George R Hill Jr
	Wildcats' taking off from the USS Hornet He likely is in one of them. This was taken in Jun 1942 He probably was one of the Wildcats that protected the area during the takeoff of the famous Doolittle Raid in April of 1942.

On the USS HORNET CV-8 - This photo was taken in 1942.
The USS HORNET WAS SUNK IN OCT OF THAT YEAR IN THE BATTLE OF GUADALCANAL.
The ship was found not too long ago at the bottom of the sea.
God Bless the many who lost their lives.

He was one of ten in a flight squadron of Wildcats F4F-3 from the USS Hornet. They flew and did their duty but there was no way to return to the HORNET. They ran out of gas and had to ditch. 8 of the 10 were found. Ensign Hill was one of the two presumed drowned. His body was not found.

Ensign George Russell Hill Jr, he died during the Battle of Midway. HIS BODY WAS LOST A SEA. He is memorialized at the Courts of the Missing; Honolulu Memorial in Hawaii.

He also has a memorial stone in Fairview Cemetery in Denison. Born 23 Jul 1918 - Died 4 Jun 1942. He is not forgotten.

The Denison Press
Friday, September 3, 1943
pg. 3

PURPLE HEART POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED ENSIGN G.R. HILL, JR.
Honoring the late Ensign G.R. Hill, Jr., 23, and son of Mrs. Gay Hailey Hill, a purple heart was posthumously awarded by
the Commander-in-Chief, of the armed forces of the U.S. this week.
Ensign Hill was listed as lost in the battle of June 4, 1942 at Midway. He was a pilot on a navy plane. The medal came
to Denison last Sunday while the mother was here on a visit from her work at Garland, where she is engaged in the office of the Southern Aircraft corporation.
Ensign Hill is a graduate of the Denison High School and Rice Institute and received his wings in 1941. His father, George R. Hill, is a clerk at the Katy Ray Terminal.

George Russell Hill Jr earned these medals.
PURPLE HEART

AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL

AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL

ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL

Thank you for your Service.

Grayson County Military Page
Susan Hawkins
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