COL GLEN A. HILL (Ret.)
May
24, 1923 - April 24, 2000
From Sunnyvale, California
EXCERPTS FROM
720th MP BATTALION VIET NAM PROJECT
(http://www.720mpvietnamproject.org)
Glen Hill was born in Visalia, California;
the seventh child of Robert Lee Hill, then Sheriff of Tulare County,
and Lucy Russell Hill. Glen graduated 13 June 1941, from Visalia Union
High School, he then continued on a football scholarship to Washington
State University at Pullman. There he majored in Police Science and
Administration until 22 March 1942, when he was inducted into the
United States Army (after being declined enlistment into the Marine
Corps due to colorblindness). He rose to the rank of Sgt. by February
1944, and was commissioned an Infantry 2Lt. on 3 May 1944. He served as
an Infantry Platoon Leader in K Company, 60th Regimental Combat Team,
9th Infantry Division.
He was later assigned to the 382nd MP Battalion 66th Inf. Div. and
finally separated as a 1st Lt. at Camp Beale, California on 4 June
1946. His decorations at that time included the American Campaign
Medal, the European African Middle Eastern Service Medal, the World War
II Victory Medal, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge (CIB), and the Army of
Occupation Medal.
Interestingly, though awarded the CIB, he chose not to wear it. In
December 1972 LTG Joseph Stillwell asked, then COL Hill, if he had not
been awarded the CIB, and why it wasn’t on his uniform. COL. Hill’s
reason was, that for many soldiers, this was the only award for combat
duty that they would receive, posthumously, and this award should be
reserved for them. He held the CIB in great esteem. He felt the same
way about the Purple Heart. Though having qualified for the Purple
Heart on at least one occasion, COL Hill declined to be submitted for
the award. Again there were soldiers that had far greater wounds than
he had ever suffered, and this one medal might be all the recognition
they would have to show for their pain, agony and sacrifice.
Glen Hill returned to Washington State University in the summer of
1946. While there he became a member of and president of the local
chapter of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, a national honor society. He
earned his BS in Police Science on 2 February 1948.
In 1947, Glen fell in love with the lovely
Gloria Donna Hawkes, and on 6 February 1948 they were married in a
small ceremony in Olympia, Washington. Together they had three sons and
one (deceased) daughter.
Glen Hill briefly worked as a police officer in Longview, Washington
while awaiting return to active duty in the Army. On 21 October 1948 he
returned to active military duty and served as a Counter Intelligence
Officer until January 1950, when he attended the Military Police (MP)
Officer’s Basic Course at Ft. Gordon, Georgia. From June 1950 to
September 1951 he served in the 503rd MP Bn. at Ft. Bragg NC. From
October 1951 to October 1954 he served in the 540th MP Bn., the 43rd MP
Company, and as Company Commander of Headquarters Co. 1st Bn. 172nd
Infantry in Germany.
Upon his return from Europe he served as an ROTC Instructor at Michigan
State University in East Lansing MI, attended the MP Officer’s Advanced
Course in September 1957, and then was selected to become an Instructor
at the MP School from May 1958 till May 1959. From June 1959 to
December 1960 he served as the Military Police Advisor to the Provost
Marshal General of the Royal Thai Army, in Bangkok, Thailand. He was
responsible for advising the Royal Thai Army on all phases of general
law enforcement and security. He was also instrumental in the founding
of the Royal Thai Army Military Police Academy. His dealings with the
Royal Thai Military, played a role in Thailand’s later support for U.S.
involvement in Southwest Asia.
In January 1961 he reported to Ft.
Leavenworth, Kansas for the Command & General Staff Course
(C&GSC). While waiting for the course to begin, it was discovered
that he had grown up on a farm in the San Joaquin valley of California.
He was subsequently put in charge of the US Military Disciplinary
Barracks farm for four months, until he became the Assistant Provost
Marshal for the Post . After completing the C&GSC, he was selected
for graduate school and sent to the University of California at Berkley
where he earned a Masters Degree in Criminology in 1963. His Master’s
thesis was on the development and use of Psychological Testing Tools
for Improving the Selection and Quality of Military Police.
In 1963, at the request of the
U.S. State Department, then LTC Hill was selected for assignment as
Consular Advisor to the Brazilian military police. Serving during a
period of increased unrest in the country, LTC Hill was instrumental in
laying the foundations for a military police force dedicated to, and
serving, democratic principles.
Upon returning from Brazil in
1965 LTC Hill assumed command of the 720th MP Battalion.
U.S.involvement in Vietnam was dramatically growing during this period.
The need for MP’s to conduct local security and military convoy escort
duties was recognized. The 720th MP Battalion, under his command, was
selected as one of the very first MP Battalions to be deployed in its
entirety to the Republic of Vietnam in 1966. Within months of
deployment the battalion was involved in action that resulted in the
unit being awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation. Towards the end of
his tour, LTC Hill became the Operations Officer during the ‘stand-up’
of the 18th MP Brigade. Soon thereafter he was promoted to Colonel.
In the period 1967 - 1969 COL
Hill returned to the United States and served in a series of nominative
positions. As the Assistant Commandant of the US Army Military Police
School, COL Hill assessed and restructured the curriculum to address
the changing needs of the military and the country. Asked to join the
Office of the Provost Marshal General, COL Hill served as key
operational and policy advisor during a national period of political
and civil unrest, which resulted in many new training programs and
procedures in civil law enforcement agencies across the country.
In 1968, following the
assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the civil unrest that
developed across the United States, the Chief of Staff, Army, General
Harold K. Johnson, organized a new Directorate for Civil Disturbance
Planning and Operations (DCDPO) within the umbrella of his office.
Their mission was to publish plans and manage operational training and
riot control activities for various civilian police departments,
National Guard forces, reserve units and selected active duty military
forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines). Because of his personal
knowledge and training background in civil disturbance affairs, Glen
Hill was selected to serve as the Chief of the Plans Division within
the DCDPO.
COL Hill graduated from the
U.S. Army War College in 1970. Later that year, he volunteered for a
2nd tour in Vietnam and was selected to assume command of the 16th MP
Group. During his command, the 16th Group grew to a combat strength of
5,000 troops and assumed responsibility for combat police support, area
law enforcement and physical security for northern and central Vietnam.
COL Hill, once again, received personal recognition for his
contribution to the U.S. Army’s effort.
Upon his return from his third
combat tour in 1971, COL Hill became the Provost Marshal, Sixth United
States Army. In this position COL Hill was responsible for policy
development, inspection and emergency/crisis planning for the entire
6th Army. After a little over a year in this position, COL Hill was
asked to accept the position of Deputy, Provost Marshal General, U.S.
Army.
From 1973 –1974, COL Hill was
directly responsible developing, coordinating, implementing and
directing all law enforcement, confinement and physical security
operations of the U.S. Army. COL Hill was recognized for his personal
contribution to the shaping and transformation of the MP Corps into
what we know it to be today… Ever Vigilant, dedicated to Duty, Justice
and Honor.
COL Hill’s final active duty
assignment was as Professor of Military Science at San Jose State
University until retiring from active duty in 1978. COL Hill’s nearly
four decades of service, commencing as a Private in 1943, until his
retirement were passionately dedicated to the US Army and his beloved
Military Police Corps. He was a soldier, a military policeman, a
scholar, and humanitarian, and a leader who favorably influenced
Seniors and Subordinates at all levels.
COL Hill was a lover of music,
a voracious reader, and a great debater. He had been married for 52
years to Gloria. He fathered three sons: COL Michael A. Hill (USAR,
ret.), LTC Jeffrey S. Hill (USA, ret.), and Mr. Kevin D. Hill. He is
also survived by eight grandchildren and one great grandchild.
Lest we not forget, and above
all, COL Hill was a devout Christian, and had a personal relationship
with his Lord Jesus Christ.. His character was a reflection of his
lifetime of spiritual growth. As a man of great faith, courage, and
integrity, he sought, knew, loved, and recognized God’s truth.
Internment for Glen took place
at The Smith Hill Mountain Cemetery on Saturday 29 April 2000. Most of
Glen’s deceased family members—including his Mother and Father—are
buried there.
COL Hill was the commander of the 720th Military Police Battalion when it was brought from Fort Hood, Texas to the South Viet Nam Theater of War in October 1966.
The ceremony held at the Hall of Fame located at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri was part of the 62nd Anniversary of the Military Police Corps.
COL Hill along with honorees COL Patrick R. Lowrey and MAJ Frank L. Ribich, Jr. were honored for their long distinctive service to the Corps and their many contributions to the Army. The honorees, friends, and families were hosted the evening before to dinner as guests of Brigadier General Stephen J. Curry, US Army Military Police Corps School Commandant and Mrs. Curry. The next day's induction events began with a Commandant's Invitational Luncheon for honorees and guest at the Pershing Community Club.
The luncheon, hosted by BG Curry, was attended by Major General & Mrs. Donald Ryder, MG (Ret) and Mrs. Paul Timmerberg, members of each inductees family, a group of invited guests and a large audience of active duty MP Leaders, CID Region Commanders and members of the Hall of Fame.
COL Hill's accomplishments spanning 36 years of service from 1943 to 1979 were highlighted by COL (Ret) Jonathan (Shocky) Van Horn a close personal friend of many years.
Plaques and certificates were presented in turn to each inductee. Mrs. Gloria Hill accepted on behalf of her husband, COL Hill. Also present at the ceremony were COL Hill's son's, COL (Ret) Mike Hill, LTC (Ret) Jeff Hill, and Kevin Hill. The tributes were followed by brief remarks from each honoree.
The group then moved to the Hall of Fame where each inductee's photo was placed on the wall with 35 previous MP Corps honorees who have significantly impacted the heritage of the MP Corps. The inductees next participated in a Memorial Grove tribute to those MPs who gave their lives in defense of our Nation. An impressive parade of the entire MP Regiment in battle dress followed the memorial Grove Ceremony.
Colonel Hill's innovative career spanned more than 35 years, including three combat tours of duty in two Theaters of Operations, one in Europe, during WWII and two in the Republic of Vietnam.
While in combat in the Republic of Vietnam, Colonel Hill commanded the 720th Military Police Battalion, and the 16th Military Police Group, which had the largest combat sector. Many of the lessons learned later became doctrine used for future Military Police policies and procedures.
His genuine understanding for the concerns of his soldiers clearly marked him as a leader who his troops respected and had confidence that he would bring them back safely from the "battle."
Throughout his career, Colonel Hill was continuously nominated to be placed in the most demanding positions. From June 1959 to December 1960, he was the Military Police Advisor to the Provost Marshal General of the Royal Thai Army which played a major role in Thailand's support for the US involvement in Southeast Asia.
In 1963, Colonel Hill was given an unusual honor when he was selected by the US State Department as Consular Advisor to the Brazil Military Police. Many of his methods and training ideas were instrumental in laying the foundations for "The Brazilian Military Police Forces" to become dedicated in serving the democratic principles within their country. For his meritorious service to the Brazilian Military Police, he was awarded the Merito e Dedicacao Medal.
After his return to the United States from his third combat tour in 1971, Colonel Hill became the Provost Marshal of the 6th United States Army. Colonel Hill was asked to accept the position of Deputy Provost Marshal General, and was directly responsible for developing, coordinating, implementing, and directing all law enforcement, confinement, and physical security operations of the US Army.
Colonel Hill was known as a Soldiers Soldier, a Military Policeman, scholar, humanitarian, and an outstanding Commander, who's tremendous abilities had an impact on not only the Military Police Corps Regiment, but the US Army as a whole.
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