Walter Newell Hill (September 29, 1881 – June 29, 1955) was a highly decorated officer in the United States Marine Corps and a Medal of Honor recipient for his role in the United States occupation of Veracruz. He subsequently served in the Marine Corps for 37 years, including service in Haitian Campaign and World War II.

Biography

Walter N. Hill was born September 29, 1881, in

Haverhill, Massachusetts Haverhill ( ) is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. Haverhill is located 35 miles north of Boston on the New Hampshire border and about 17 miles from the Atlantic Ocean. The population was 67,787 at the 2020 United States Cen ...

, and attended Noble & Greenough School in

Dedham, Massachusetts Dedham ( ) is a town in and the county seat of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 25,364 at the 2020 census. It is located on Boston's southwest border. On the northwest it is bordered by Needham, on the southwest b ...

. He subsequently attended Harvard College and graduated with Bachelor of Arts degree in 1904. Hill joined the Marine Corps on February 1, 1904, and was commissioned

second lieutenant Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces, comparable to NATO OF-1 rank. Australia The rank of second lieutenant existed in the military forces of the Australian colonies and Australian Army until ...

on the same date. He attended the

School of Application The United States Marine Corps Officer Candidates School (OCS) is a training regiment designed to screen and evaluate potential Marine Corps Officers. Those who successfully complete the period of instruction are commissioned as Second Lieutena ...

and after graduation was assigned to the Norfolk Navy Yard, Virginia. When the situation on Cuba became worse, he was assigned to the Marine detachment aboard the battleship USS ''Massachusetts'' and sailed there. Hill was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant in June 1906 and participated in Second Occupation of Cuba with 1st Provisional Regiment of Marines. He returned to the United States in January 1909 and after brief tour of duty was transferred to the 1st Brigade of Marines and sailed for Philippines in July 1909. Hill was subsequently assigned to the detachment aboard gunboat USS ''Helena'' and sailed for Hankou,

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...

to protect

Standard Oil Company Standard Oil Company, Inc., was an American oil production, transportation, refining, and marketing company that operated from 1870 to 1911. At its height, Standard Oil was the largest petroleum company in the world, and its success made its co-f ...

property. He remained in China until January 1912 and returned to the States. Throughout his more than 40-year career he served in the West Indies, Philippines, China, and France in World War I. He was recalled to active duty in January 1942, and served at Marine Corps Headquarters with the Naval Examining Board until the end of World War II.USMC History Division He died June 29, 1955, at St. Albans Naval Hospital, New York City, New York and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia. His grave can be found in section 6, lot 9646-C.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Marine Corps. Born: 29 September 1881, Haverhill, Mass. Appointed from: Massachusetts. G.O. No.: 177, 4 December 1915. Citation:

For distinguished conduct in battle, engagements of Vera Cruz, 21 and 22 April 1914. Capt. Hill was in both days' fighting at the head of his company, and was eminent and conspicuous in his conduct, leading his men with skill and courage.

Decorations

Here is the ribbon bar of Brigadier General Walter Newell Hill:

References

: * {{DEFAULTSORT:Hill, Walter N. 1881 births 1955 deaths People from Haverhill, Massachusetts Harvard College alumni United States Army War College alumni United States Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipients United States Marine Corps generals American military personnel of the Banana Wars United States Marine Corps personnel of World War I United States Marine Corps World War II generals Battle of Veracruz (1914) recipients of the Medal of Honor Burials at Arlington National Cemetery Military personnel from Massachusetts

Biography

Medal of Honor citation

Decorations

See also

References