Skip to main content

John William Hill

PVT in 603rd Engineer Camouflage Bn : Co C

ASN#33364503

Born 1906 in PA, Died 1975

Artist

County of residence at enlistment: Washington County, PA
Other residence(s): Pittsburgh, PA
United States Army, did not accompany the unit to Europe
Occupation before the war: commercial artists
College education before the war: 3 years
Notes: also HQ & Service Co
Source: 603rd Camouflage Engineer Roster provided by W. Anderson; Company C roster; 603rd roster in Seymour Nussenbaum's scrapbook, June 1943

John Hill was born on March 28, 1906 in Charleroi, PA, an only child. His father, who was Canadian by birth, was a traveling salesman for Armour meats. The 1910 census says that John was adopted; it's not known who his birth parents were.

He registered for the draft on October 15, 1940, at which time he was working at PDL Advertising Displays in Pittsburgh. He registered for the draft on April 22, 1942, stating that he had three years of college and was working as a commercial artist. He was assigned to the 603rd Engineer Camouflage Battalion.

He was discharged from the Army at Fort Meade on October 14, 1943 for unknown reasons, so did not go to Europe with the unit. Presumably he went back to Pittsburgh, where he was living and working in 1950. Nothing else is known of his life or career.

He died on January 19, 1975 and is buried at Maple Creek Cemetery in his birthplace, Charleroi, PA.

Sources:

1910 census

https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/125518085:7884?tid=&pid=&queryId=dc4d9a502ac29c6a171e6218e7b34dc0&_phsrc=gcg30&_phstart=successSource

1920 census

https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/34383570:6061?tid=&pid=&queryId=200ee606cc0913a61390c3a07bf1b586&_phsrc=gcg5&_phstart=successSource

1940 draft card

https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/9256846:2238?tid=&pid=&queryId=2cfb87968c33785fa1776ef7d0717f87&_phsrc=gcg10&_phstart=successSource

1942 enlistment record

https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=8939&h=5975962&tid=&pid=&queryId=35234817753399b9bdf41d25d59f59cf&usePUB=true&_phsrc=gcg3&_phstart=successSource

1950 Pennsylvania Veterans US Compensation File

https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=3147&h=1201223&tid=&pid=&queryId=2829e57e0df1497472f0dfb702dd32fd&usePUB=true&_phsrc=gcg8&_phstart=successSource

1975 Find a Grave record

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/146404634/john-w-hill

1975 Pennsylvania US Veterans Burial Card (confirms he was in 603rd HQ & Service Co.)

https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/596160:1967?tid=&pid=&queryId=34558069102d4a3a80b89a455506a653&_phsrc=gcg22&_phstart=successSource

Please Support Our Ongoing Efforts

The soldiers of The Ghost Army used inflatable tanks, sound effects, and imagination to fool the Germans on the battlefields of Europe. The Ghost Army Legacy Project is ensuring that these men and their accomplishments are never forgotten.

Give via credit card by clicking the yellow “Donate” button.

Or, send a check to:

Ghost Army Legacy Project
1305 S. Michigan Ave. #1104
Chicago, IL 60605

All donations are tax-deductible!