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First Name: Harry

Last Name: Hill

Birthplace: Oakland, CA, USA

Gender: Male

Branch: Navy (present)

Rating:

Middle Name: Wilbur



Date of Birth: 07 April 1890

Date of Death: 19 July 1971

Rank or Rate: Admiral

Years Served: 1907-1952
Harry Wilbur Hill

   
Graduate, U.S. Naval Academy, Class of 1911

Engagements:
•  World War I (1914 - 1918)
•  World War II (1941 - 1945)

Biography:

Harry Wilbur Hill

Admiral, U.S. Navy

Harry Wilbur Hill was born on 7 April 1890 in Oakland, CA. He entered the U.S. Naval Academy in 1907, graduating in June 1911.

After graduation from the Naval Academy, he served successively in the armored cruiser USS Maryland (ACR-8), torpedo boat tender USS Iris, and destroyer USS Perry (DD-11), with the Pacific Flotilla; and as Engineer Officer of the protected cruiser USS Albany (CL-23).

World War I

From January 1917 he served on the battleship USS Texas (BB-35), a part of Battleship Division Nine of the British Grand Fleet during World War I. He transferred in September 1918 to the battleship USS Wyoming (BB-32), in which he witnessed the surrender of the German High Seas Fleet upon the cessation of hostilities.

The Inter-War Years

On 23 November 1918, he reported as Navigator of the battleship USS Arkansas (BB-33), and served in that capacity until January 1919, when he was assigned duty as Aide and Flag Lieutenant to the Commander Division Seven, Atlantic Fleet. In July of that year, he transferred to similar duty on the Staff of Commander Division Six, Pacific Fleet. After serving two months at the Naval Academy, in November 1919 he became Aide to the Chief of Naval Operations, where he remained until March 1923.

He assisted in fitting out the USS Concord (CL-10), at William Cramp and Sons, Philadelphia, PA, and upon the commissioning of that cruiser on 23 November 1923, he joined her as Gunnery Officer. He served three months from June 1925 as Aide to the Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Fleet, after which he had duty afloat as Gunnery Officer of the light cruiser USS Memphis (CL-13). He was assigned for two years, June 1926-28, as Executive Officer of the Receiving Barracks, Hampton Roads, VA, then had service from July 1928 to May 1931, as Gunnery Officer of USS Maryland (BB-46). He was aboard that battleship in 1929 when she won the Gunnery Trophy and he received a commendatory letter from the Secretary of the Navy.

Returning to the U.S., he reported as Battalion Officer in the Executive Department of the Naval Academy, and from June 1933-34 served as Force Gunnery Officer on the staff of Commander Battle Force, U.S. Fleet in the Pacific. Ordered to Bath Iron Works, Commander Hill was in charge of fitting out USS Dewey (DD-349), and then commanded that destroyer from her commissioning, from 4 October 1934 until 17 June 1935. He was again assigned to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, and in May 1938 completed the Senior Course at the Naval War College.

Between June 1938 and February 1940, he was War Plans Officer on the Staff of the Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Fleet, after which he had a third tour of duty in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, where Captain Hill was attached to the War Plans Division until January 1942.

World War II

Ordered to sea, Hill assumed command of the heavy cruiser USS Wichita (CA-45), which operated for several months on convoy duty with the British Home Fleet to the North Russian port of Murmansk. Hill escorted a convoy that was reported on by Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. In response to 4th of July greetings from the British Convoy Commander, "Many happy returns of the day. The U.S. is the only country with a known birthday," Hill replied "Thank you. I think England should celebrate Mother's Day."

Detached from command of Wichita on 28 September 1942, he reported as Commander Battleship Division Four, USS Maryland, flagship, serving a year in the South Pacific. He was also commander of a task force, which was the first to comprise battleships and escort carriers.

In September 1943 he became Commander Amphibious Group Two, Fifth Amphibious Force, and in that capacity participated in the capture of Tarawa, and later in operations against the Gilberts, Marshalls, Marianas, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. He relieved the Commander Fifth Amphibious Force at Okinawa in April 1945, and commanded the amphibious and support operations of that force until that island was secured at the end of June.

Post-War

At the close of the war in August 1945, he commanded the Amphibious Force which landed the Sixth Army in Southwestern Japan for occupation duty. On 1 November 1945, he assumed duty as Commandant Army-Navy Staff College, and in June 1946, Vice Admiral Hill established and served as Commandant of the National War College, the highest-level educational institution of the Armed Forces and the State Department. In September 1949, he reported as Chairman of the General Board, Navy Department, and on 28 April 1950 became Superintendent of the Naval Academy and Commandant, Severn River Naval Command. He continued to serve as such after his retirement on 1 May 1952 until August 1952.

Upon his retirement in May 1952, he was advanced in rank to four-star Admiral. *

* The Act of Congress of 4 March 1925, allowed Navy officers to be promoted one grade upon retirement if they had been specially commended for performance of duty in actual combat. These promotions were colloquially known as "tombstone promotions" because they conferred the prestige of the higher rank but not the additional retirement pay, so their only practical benefit was to allow recipients to engrave a loftier title on their business cards and tombstones. An Act of Congress on 23 February 1942, enabled tombstone promotions to three- and four-star grades.

Admiral Hill served as Governor of the Naval Home, Philadelphia, PA, from 21 October 1952 until 21 May 1954.

Honors

In 1978, the destroyer USS Harry W. Hill (DD-986) was named in his honor.

Death and Burial

Admiral Harry Wilbur Hill died on 19 July 1971 in Annapolis, MD. He is buried at the U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery in Annapolis, MD.



Honoree ID: 549   Created by: MHOH

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