Serving as a sailor in the U.S. Navy, Chief Boatswain Edwin Joseph Hill was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions on December 7, 1941 at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Territory during World War II. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Nevada. Hill was 46 years old.
Hill was killed in the action for which his medal was awarded. 16 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.
Hill was born on October 4, 1895 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. His Medal of Honor is credited to Pennsylvania. He is buried at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Hill is one of 474 Medal of Honor recipients from World War II and one of 380 credited to Pennsylvania.
Official Medal of Honor citation
For distinguished conduct in the line of his profession, extraordinary courage, and disregard of his own safety during the attack on the Fleet in Pearl Harbor, by Japanese forces on 7 December 1941. During the height of the strafing and bombing, Chief Boatswain Hill led his men of the line-handling details of the U.S.S. Nevada to the quays, cast off the lines and swam back to his ship. Later, while on the forecastle, attempting to let go the anchors, he was blown overboard and killed by the explosion of several bombs.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and death in action
- Killed in action during the act for which the medal was awarded (December 7, 1941).
- Age at death: 46
- Resting place: National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: World War II.
Places
- Born: Philadelphia — map
- Died: Pearl Harbor — map
- Buried: National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific — map
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Pennsylvania →
Timeline
- October 4, 1895Born in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
- December 7, 1941Act of valor — Pearl Harbor, Hawaii TerritoryAge 46. U.S.S. Nevada Killed in action.
- Resting placeNational Memorial Cemetery of the PacificHonolulu, Hawaii
Biography
Edwin Joseph Hill (October 4, 1894 - December 7, 1941), was a United States Navy sailor who was stationed on the USS Nevada (BB-36) during the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941. He posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the battle. Hill is most noted for having released the USS Nevada from its mooring, and then as the battleship began to steam away, jumping into the harbor, swimming after the ship, and then climbing up the battleship onto its deck to continue the fight.
From the Wikipedia article “Edwin J. Hill”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
Named in his honor
- USS Hill — destroyer escort
