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<em>Richard Frederick Hill</em> was born in Laredo, Texas, August 31st, 1915, where his father, the late Major Joseph Andrew Hill, was stationed during the Mexican border troubles.</p>
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Like most sons of the Regular Army, Dick looked forward to a military career and all the activities of his boyhood reflected that ambition. He was a gay, friendly lad; loved riding, swimming and tennis, but never forgot that he must earn his appointment scholastically as well. After a rather sketchy and often interrupted primary education he entered Georgia Military Academy and was graduated in 1932. That same summer he enrolled as a cooperative student at Georgia Tech and the following Spring was given an emergency appointment to West Point by Representative Ramspeck of Georgia.</p>
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“The Mahatma” as he was called by his classmates because of a striking portrayal of that character during his Plebe days, received his commission with the Class of 1937 and was assigned to the 22nd Infantry at Fort McPherson, Georgia. In 1939 he was ordered to the Philippines where he served with the 57th Philippine Scouts at Fort McKinley. The following year his fiancée, Barbara Page of Atlanta, Georgia, joined him and they were married in the Cathedral of St. John and St. Mary in Manila. His groomsmen were classmates, all but one of whom were later killed in action. After a few short gay months Barbara was evacuated with the other Army wives and his brief married life came to a close.</p>
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During his service in the Philippines Dick was in quick succession Second Lieutenant, First Lieutenant, Captain, and when war broke out, Major. He was among those selected by General MacArthur to serve with the Philippine Army, first on the Panay, then Negros and Anally Mindanao. He was Executive Officer of the 61st (P.A.) and was cited for gallantry in action on April 30, 1942, for which he was posthumously awarded the Silver Star. He was captured by the Japanese, starved, beaten, but never humiliated. He was killed while being transported on a prison ship which was bombed by our forces and sunk in Subic Bay December 15, 1944.</p>
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At the time of his death Dick was twenty-nine years old, the last of his line—a brave soldier and an honor to his class and country.</p>
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Dick’s love of music was well known at the Point where it was said he had the finest collection of classical records of any cadet. He also had a flair for poetry and loved to dash off nonsense verses or more ambitious poems in his spare time. After a week on the rifle range at Fort McKinley shortly before war started, he wrote “<em>The Rifleman’s Prayer</em>”:</p>
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Some day I’ll go to reap my last reward,<br />
Perhaps a life eternal in the skies.<br />
I’ll ask the heavenly scorer there, the Lord,<br />
Not to run without some jawbone tries.</p>
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Preliminary work I’ve overlooked.<br />
Manipulation poor: I fear I jerk.<br />
I’ve felt the wind but never kept it booked.<br />
I’m not in practice for this heavenly work.</p>
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I’ll qualify for life beyond the sun.<br />
But I’m Bolo Joe without dry runs before.<br />
I’ll pray the Lord for just one jawbone run,<br />
Before I start to shoot my record score.</p>
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