LTJG HORACE M. HILL, USN

Class 1944

Born May 31, 1920

Died October 1, 1945

Age 25

Hometown McNeal, Arizona

Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1944 Lucky Bag:

Horace Milton Hill

Horace gave up farming in Southern Arizona to carry out his ambition to graduate from the Naval Academy. Although he had never seen the ocean before, or a warship, “H.M.” became a true lover of the Navy, and was always ready with any of the latest news about it. Though he had never tried his hand at athletics before, he soon learned to put his rugged 195-pound frame into good use in crew and football. Having his O.A.O. in nearby Washington, Horace enjoyed to the utmost every dragging weekend. “Always ready for a frolic or a fray,” Horace hoped to do his fighting from the deck of a cruiser.

The Class of 1944 was graduated in June 1943 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.

Loss

Horace was lost on October 1, 1945 when his plane crashed while attempting a landing at Singleton Field, Fort Worth.

Other Information

He was reported as wounded in action in April 1945.

From researcher Kathy Franz:

Less than two weeks earlier, he was awarded a commendation medal by Captain J. J. Dow of the Dallas Naval Air Station. He served two years with the Pacific fleet.

He was survived by his wife, Barbara, and their one-year-old daughter Dorothy Sharon. His father was Eugene, mother Zoma Lee (Cooper), sisters Zoma Lee and Katherine, and brother Eugene, Jr.

He is buried in Arizona.

Class of 1944

Horace is one of 66 members of the Class of 1944 on Virtual Memorial Hall.

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