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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Corporal · U.S. Army

Ralyn M. Hill

Corporal Ralyn M. Hill, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on October 7, 1918 near Donnevoux, France during World War I.

World War I October 7, 1918

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Corporal Ralyn M. Hill received the Medal of Honor for his actions on October 7, 1918 near Donnevoux, France during World War I. At the time he was serving with Company H, 129th Infantry, 33d Division. Hill was 19 years old.

2 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on April 22, 1919.

Hill was born on May 6, 1899 in Lindenwood, Ogle County, Illinois. His Medal of Honor is credited to Oregon, Ogle County, Illinois. Hill died on March 25, 1977 in Abilene, Kansas, at the age of 77. He is buried at Abilene Cemetery in Abilene, Kansas.

Hill is one of 132 Medal of Honor recipients from World War I and one of 210 credited to Illinois.

★ Aviators & Aircrew

Official Medal of Honor citation

Seeing a French airplane fall out of control on the enemy side of the Meuse River with its pilot injured, Cpl. Hill voluntarily dashed across the footbridge to the side of the wounded man and, taking him on his back, started back to his lines. During the entire exploit he was subjected to murderous fire of enemy machine guns and artillery, but he successfully accomplished his mission and brought his man to a place of safety, a distance of several hundred yards.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: World War I.

Places

  • Born: Lindenwood — map
  • Buried: Abilene Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Illinois →

Timeline

  1. May 6, 1899
    Born in Lindenwood, Ogle County, Illinois
  2. October 7, 1918
    Act of valor — near Donnevoux, France
    Age 19. Company H, 129th Infantry, 33d Division
  3. April 22, 1919
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. March 25, 1977
    Died in Abilene, Kansas
    Age 77.
  5. Resting place
    Abilene Cemetery
    Abilene, Kansas

Biography

Ralyn M. Hill (May 6, 1899 – March 25, 1977) was a soldier in the United States Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during World War I.

From the Wikipedia article “Ralyn M. Hill”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Further reading

Also honored for actions on October 7, 1918

JB John Lewis Barkley Private First Class · Army World War I · 1918 ET Edward R. Talley Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918

More World War I recipients from Illinois

SM Sterling Lewis Morelock Private · Army World War I · 1918 Edouard Victor michel Izac Lieutenant · Navy World War I · 1918 Sydney G. Gumpertz First Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918 Johannes Seigfried Anderson First Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918 Jake Allex Corporal · Army World War I · 1918 JK John Joseph Kelly Private · Marine Corps World War I · 1918
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.