Henry Root Hill

Henry Root Hill
Born (1876-06-20)June 20, 1876
Quincy, Illinois
Died October 16, 1918(1918-10-16) (aged 42)
Romagne-sous-Montfaucon, France
Allegiance United States United States
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service 1894–1918
Rank Brigadier general
Unit Illinois National Guard
Battles/wars Border War (1910–19)
World War I
Awards Distinguished Service Cross

Henry Root Hill (June 20, 1876 – October 16, 1918) was a United States Army officer in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He served in World War I and was killed in the conflict.

Biography

Hill was born in Quincy, Illinois, on June 20, 1876. After finishing public school, he worked at his father's furniture and carpeting dealership, and after he father died in 1905, Hill succeeded him as the owner.[1]

In 1894, Hill enlisted in the Illinois National Guard as a private. He was commissioned in 1899, and he became a National Guard brigadier general in 1914. Hill was briefly sent to the border with Mexico in 1916. After some race riots in East St. Louis, Illinois, which the Illinois National Guard put down, Hill became the president of the board to investigate how the situation was handled.[1]

On July 25, 1917, Hill became a brigadier general of the National Army, and he took the 65th Infantry Brigade to France. When given the choice, he insisted on serving on the front lines. Hill was commissioned as a major on August 29, 1918, and served with the 128th Infantry Regiment. He was killed in battle during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, near Romagne-sous-Montfaucon, on October 16, 1918. He posthumously received the Distinguished Service Cross.[1] He was buried in Quincy, Illinois.[2]

Personal life

Hill never married.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Davis, Jr. 1998, p. 178.
  2. ↑ "Gen Henry Root Hill". Find a Grave. Retrieved August 7, 2018.

Bibliography

  • Davis, Jr., Henry Blaine (1998). Generals in Khaki. Raleigh, North Carolina: Pentland Press. ISBN 1571970886. OCLC 40298151.
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