Richard Garfield Hill
Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army

On 9 December 1969, Staff Sergeant Richard Garfield Hill was serving with Company E, 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), in South Vietnam.

On that day, SSG Hill was a squad leader during a patrol southwest of Fire Support Base Compton. When an enemy force opened fire from a flanking location, SSG Hill maneuvered his squad into advantageous positions, quickly eliminating 6 enemy troops. His squad then swept forward and riddled the hostile emplacements with rifle fire. As gunships moved in to bombard the enemy with rockets, SSG Hill assisted in evacuating the wounded. Although his men had been ordered to provide security, upon learning that the body of a fellow squad leader had fallen in a wall-forward position, SSG Hill volunteered to accompany another squad as it assaulted. Moving forward, he eliminated 2 enemy bunkers single-handedly. As he attempted to destroy a 3rd position, he was mortally wounded by enemy rocket fire. SSG Hill's extraordinary heroism, at the cost of his life, earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart
Army Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Combat Infantryman Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Richard Garfield Hill (248-80-4103), Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company E, 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). Staff Sergeant Hill distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions while serving as squad leader during a patrol southwest of Fire Support Base Compton. When an enemy force opened fire from a flanking location, Sergeant Hill maneuvered his squad into advantageous positions, quickly eliminating six enemy troops. His squad then swept forward and riddled the hostile emplacements with rifle fire. As gunships moved in to bombard the enemy with rockets, Sergeant Hill assisted in evacuating the wounded. Although his men had been ordered to provide security, upon learning that the body of a fellow squad leader had fallen in a wall-forward position, Sergeant Hill immediately volunteered to accompany another squad as it assaulted. Valiantly pressing forward, he eliminated two enemy bunkers single-handedly. As he attempted to destroy a third position, he was mortally wounded by enemy rocket fire. Staff Sergeant Hill's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

Headquarters, US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 446 (February 16, 1970)

Honors

The name Richard G Hill is located on Panel 15W Line 42 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

Burial

Staff Sergeant Richard Garfield Hill is buried at Holly Hill Memorial Gardens in Middle River, Baltimore County, MD.

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