Richard Frederick Hill was born on August 31, 1915, in Laredo, Webb County, Texas. He was the son of Joseph A. Hill and Frances Jassamine Reed Hill. He was married to Barbara Page. He graduated from the Georgia Military Academy in 1932, attended the Georgia Institute of Technology, and earned an emergency appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, graduating with the Class of 1937. Nicknamed “The Mahatma” by his classmates, he was commissioned into the 22nd Infantry at Fort McPherson, Georgia, and later assigned to the 57th Philippine Scouts at Fort McKinley.

While serving in the Philippines, Dick advanced rapidly through the ranks from Second Lieutenant to Major by the start of the war. Handpicked by General MacArthur, he served with the Philippine Army on Panay, Negros, and Mindanao, becoming Executive Officer of the 61st Philippine Army Regiment. Captured by the Japanese, he was held as a prisoner of war at PW Camp #2 in Davao, Mindanao, until December 1944, when he was placed aboard the Oryoku Maru en route to Japan, which was sunk by American aircraft at Subic Bay on December 15, 1944, and he lost his life in the attack.

Maj Hill's name is memorialized in the Tablets of the Missing in the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines. He also has a cenotaph in the Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA.

Silver Star Citation:
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Major (Infantry) Richard Frederick Hill (ASN: 0-20745), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving as Executive Officer of the 61st Infantry Regiment, Philippine Scouts, in action against the enemy during the defense of Bataan, Luzon, Philippine Islands, on 30 April 1942. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Major Hill, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, alumni.westpointaog.org, valor.militarytimes.com