My brother Jerry was born in Bismarck, North Dakota on October 27th, 1946. He was born to Henry & Delores Hill & was their 2nd child.
Henry & Delores moved to Seattle, Wa. In 1952 which is where Jerry spend most of his life. He attended Holy Family Grade School & then went on to Chief Sealth High School which is where he graduated.
Jerry did most of the normal things that most boys did growing up in the 50's & the 60's .
When he was young he was an alter boy at Holy Family Church, he belonged to the Boys Club & he had a paper route. We played in the woods & built forts & usually the most fun we had was when Jerry invented a new game to play; like flashlight tag after dark. Sometimes the games we played involved destroying some part of the yard. Jerry usually got in trouble with our dad for this as he liked to keep the yard looking it's best. I think Jerry tried to make up for this since for the last 13 years he's been paying to have the yard kept up & it looks beautiful! Dad would be so proud of him.
The quality I think that stands our the most with my brother is his good & generous heart & his sense of humor. If he could make someone's life easier by giving them money he would - whether he knew them or not. He would be standing behind an elderly woman at the grocery store & the next thing she'd know is he had paid for her groceries. When he was young & had his paper route he'd use his money to buy all the neighbor kids maple bars & whatever candy they wanted. Sometimes dad would have to talk to him & "remind" him that part of the money he collected from his customers had to go towards paying the PI their portion. Sometimes the "reminding" would make Jerry's backside a little "warm" for awhile. He could make people laugh even when they didn't feel like it. For instance I remember the times my husband George or I would take him to the VA Hospital for his appointments. We would be standing in line waiting for his turn to check-in & before you knew it he had everyone laughing that was standing by him. I overheard one gentleman ask Jerry when his next appointment was so he could be sure to be there to talk & laugh with him again.
My husband George & Jerry became very close in the last15 months. After our mother Delores passed away in February of 09 George stepped in to help Jerry. He took him to all his Doctor appointments at the VA Hospital & went over paperwork & bills with him. Jerry needed a little assistance with these things due to his brain damage from his injury. Jerry's left leg was severely damaged also & he was constantly having problems with it over the years. While mom was sick it opened up & was bleeding & draining. George became Jerry's own personal doctor - going to Jerry's house sometimes every other day to put medicine on it & wrap it for him. In fact when Jerry called us (sometimes every day - just to say he loved us) he always asked to speak to his Dr. George. When Jerry was dying one of the doctors at the hospital mentioned his bad leg to me & was amazed at how good it looked - I told her about Dr George. Thank you George, you were like a brother to him.
Jerry loved both of our parents very much, but he had a special relationship with our mother.
When he was little he would write her love notes or make valentines for her. He continued to do this with her in her later years as he lived the last 11 years of her life with her. He also tucked her into bed at night, bought her favorite candies & basically spoiled her in any way that he could. I loved him very much for this as our mother's life was far from easy.
In August 1967 Jerry entered the Army. He spent 8 weeks at Ft. Lewis, Washington & another 8 weeks at Ft. Knox, Kentucky. He was then stationed in Germany but after 6 months there he did something that would change his life & his family's life forever.
Jerry volunteered for service in Viet Nam as so many of his friends were over there & he wanted to join them. Jerry was a tank commander which is what he had trained for. On December 4th 1968 the infantry asked if they could have a volunteer to go with them as they were not familiar with the area. Jerry volunteered again since he knew the area. They ran into Vietnamese troops & he laid prone and prepared to fire his M-79 grenade launcher. His last memory is taking aim and bringing his forearms down to the ground; then he woke up lying on the ground about to be loaded onto a waiting evac chopper. (He apparently lowered his forearms onto an antipersonnel mine.) He recalled being strapped to the litter, then he awoke more than a week later in Japan. He had no recollection of his initial hospitalization on the USS REPOSE.
I won't go into all of his injuries as a result of this trama , but they were quite extensive. One thing that stands out in my mind is the fact that he never complained about his pain . He somehow managed to think of others instead of himself. I'm not saying my brother was an angel; anyone who knew Jerry was aware of his more wild side. But in my eyes and in my heart he was my HERO. A person who saw another person's suffering before his own. I know he is in heaven with our Lord & Savior & now he is at peace & his suffering is over.
I would like to say a few words about Jerry's son William. This young man is very special to me, not only because he is my nephew - but because of the way he loved & accepted his father.. Jerry was a complicated person due to his injuries but also the lifestyle he lived. Jerry's favorite saying was "I do what I want when I want to do it!" He would light up when he talked about William - he was so proud of him! When he said the words "my son" the love he had for him was obvious. William I want to say to you "thank you" - I couldn't have gone through the loss of my Jerry without you love & support. We will always have a part of him with us through you.
The Biography of Gerald "Jerry" L. Hill - written by his sister - Roxanne Zeufeldt
Henry & Delores moved to Seattle, Wa. In 1952 which is where Jerry spend most of his life. He attended Holy Family Grade School & then went on to Chief Sealth High School which is where he graduated.
Jerry did most of the normal things that most boys did growing up in the 50's & the 60's .
When he was young he was an alter boy at Holy Family Church, he belonged to the Boys Club & he had a paper route. We played in the woods & built forts & usually the most fun we had was when Jerry invented a new game to play; like flashlight tag after dark. Sometimes the games we played involved destroying some part of the yard. Jerry usually got in trouble with our dad for this as he liked to keep the yard looking it's best. I think Jerry tried to make up for this since for the last 13 years he's been paying to have the yard kept up & it looks beautiful! Dad would be so proud of him.
The quality I think that stands our the most with my brother is his good & generous heart & his sense of humor. If he could make someone's life easier by giving them money he would - whether he knew them or not. He would be standing behind an elderly woman at the grocery store & the next thing she'd know is he had paid for her groceries. When he was young & had his paper route he'd use his money to buy all the neighbor kids maple bars & whatever candy they wanted. Sometimes dad would have to talk to him & "remind" him that part of the money he collected from his customers had to go towards paying the PI their portion. Sometimes the "reminding" would make Jerry's backside a little "warm" for awhile. He could make people laugh even when they didn't feel like it. For instance I remember the times my husband George or I would take him to the VA Hospital for his appointments. We would be standing in line waiting for his turn to check-in & before you knew it he had everyone laughing that was standing by him. I overheard one gentleman ask Jerry when his next appointment was so he could be sure to be there to talk & laugh with him again.
My husband George & Jerry became very close in the last15 months. After our mother Delores passed away in February of 09 George stepped in to help Jerry. He took him to all his Doctor appointments at the VA Hospital & went over paperwork & bills with him. Jerry needed a little assistance with these things due to his brain damage from his injury. Jerry's left leg was severely damaged also & he was constantly having problems with it over the years. While mom was sick it opened up & was bleeding & draining. George became Jerry's own personal doctor - going to Jerry's house sometimes every other day to put medicine on it & wrap it for him. In fact when Jerry called us (sometimes every day - just to say he loved us) he always asked to speak to his Dr. George. When Jerry was dying one of the doctors at the hospital mentioned his bad leg to me & was amazed at how good it looked - I told her about Dr George. Thank you George, you were like a brother to him.
Jerry loved both of our parents very much, but he had a special relationship with our mother.
When he was little he would write her love notes or make valentines for her. He continued to do this with her in her later years as he lived the last 11 years of her life with her. He also tucked her into bed at night, bought her favorite candies & basically spoiled her in any way that he could. I loved him very much for this as our mother's life was far from easy.
In August 1967 Jerry entered the Army. He spent 8 weeks at Ft. Lewis, Washington & another 8 weeks at Ft. Knox, Kentucky. He was then stationed in Germany but after 6 months there he did something that would change his life & his family's life forever.
Jerry volunteered for service in Viet Nam as so many of his friends were over there & he wanted to join them. Jerry was a tank commander which is what he had trained for. On December 4th 1968 the infantry asked if they could have a volunteer to go with them as they were not familiar with the area. Jerry volunteered again since he knew the area. They ran into Vietnamese troops & he laid prone and prepared to fire his M-79 grenade launcher. His last memory is taking aim and bringing his forearms down to the ground; then he woke up lying on the ground about to be loaded onto a waiting evac chopper. (He apparently lowered his forearms onto an antipersonnel mine.) He recalled being strapped to the litter, then he awoke more than a week later in Japan. He had no recollection of his initial hospitalization on the USS REPOSE.
I won't go into all of his injuries as a result of this trama , but they were quite extensive. One thing that stands out in my mind is the fact that he never complained about his pain . He somehow managed to think of others instead of himself. I'm not saying my brother was an angel; anyone who knew Jerry was aware of his more wild side. But in my eyes and in my heart he was my HERO. A person who saw another person's suffering before his own. I know he is in heaven with our Lord & Savior & now he is at peace & his suffering is over.
I would like to say a few words about Jerry's son William. This young man is very special to me, not only because he is my nephew - but because of the way he loved & accepted his father.. Jerry was a complicated person due to his injuries but also the lifestyle he lived. Jerry's favorite saying was "I do what I want when I want to do it!" He would light up when he talked about William - he was so proud of him! When he said the words "my son" the love he had for him was obvious. William I want to say to you "thank you" - I couldn't have gone through the loss of my Jerry without you love & support. We will always have a part of him with us through you.
The Biography of Gerald "Jerry" L. Hill - written by his sister - Roxanne Zeufeldt
My brother Jerry was born in Bismarck, North Dakota on October 27th, 1946. He was born to Henry & Delores Hill & was their 2nd child.
Henry & Delores moved to Seattle, Wa. In 1952 which is where Jerry spend most of his life. He attended Holy Family Grade School & then went on to Chief Sealth High School which is where he graduated.
Jerry did most of the normal things that most boys did growing up in the 50's & the 60's .
When he was young he was an alter boy at Holy Family Church, he belonged to the Boys Club & he had a paper route. We played in the woods & built forts & usually the most fun we had was when Jerry invented a new game to play; like flashlight tag after dark. Sometimes the games we played involved destroying some part of the yard. Jerry usually got in trouble with our dad for this as he liked to keep the yard looking it's best. I think Jerry tried to make up for this since for the last 13 years he's been paying to have the yard kept up & it looks beautiful! Dad would be so proud of him.
The quality I think that stands our the most with my brother is his good & generous heart & his sense of humor. If he could make someone's life easier by giving them money he would - whether he knew them or not. He would be standing behind an elderly woman at the grocery store & the next thing she'd know is he had paid for her groceries. When he was young & had his paper route he'd use his money to buy all the neighbor kids maple bars & whatever candy they wanted. Sometimes dad would have to talk to him & "remind" him that part of the money he collected from his customers had to go towards paying the PI their portion. Sometimes the "reminding" would make Jerry's backside a little "warm" for awhile. He could make people laugh even when they didn't feel like it. For instance I remember the times my husband George or I would take him to the VA Hospital for his appointments. We would be standing in line waiting for his turn to check-in & before you knew it he had everyone laughing that was standing by him. I overheard one gentleman ask Jerry when his next appointment was so he could be sure to be there to talk & laugh with him again.
My husband George & Jerry became very close in the last15 months. After our mother Delores passed away in February of 09 George stepped in to help Jerry. He took him to all his Doctor appointments at the VA Hospital & went over paperwork & bills with him. Jerry needed a little assistance with these things due to his brain damage from his injury. Jerry's left leg was severely damaged also & he was constantly having problems with it over the years. While mom was sick it opened up & was bleeding & draining. George became Jerry's own personal doctor - going to Jerry's house sometimes every other day to put medicine on it & wrap it for him. In fact when Jerry called us (sometimes every day - just to say he loved us) he always asked to speak to his Dr. George. When Jerry was dying one of the doctors at the hospital mentioned his bad leg to me & was amazed at how good it looked - I told her about Dr George. Thank you George, you were like a brother to him.
Jerry loved both of our parents very much, but he had a special relationship with our mother.
When he was little he would write her love notes or make valentines for her. He continued to do this with her in her later years as he lived the last 11 years of her life with her. He also tucked her into bed at night, bought her favorite candies & basically spoiled her in any way that he could. I loved him very much for this as our mother's life was far from easy.
In August 1967 Jerry entered the Army. He spent 8 weeks at Ft. Lewis, Washington & another 8 weeks at Ft. Knox, Kentucky. He was then stationed in Germany but after 6 months there he did something that would change his life & his family's life forever.
Jerry volunteered for service in Viet Nam as so many of his friends were over there & he wanted to join them. Jerry was a tank commander which is what he had trained for. On December 4th 1968 the infantry asked if they could have a volunteer to go with them as they were not familiar with the area. Jerry volunteered again since he knew the area. They ran into Vietnamese troops & he laid prone and prepared to fire his M-79 grenade launcher. His last memory is taking aim and bringing his forearms down to the ground; then he woke up lying on the ground about to be loaded onto a waiting evac chopper. (He apparently lowered his forearms onto an antipersonnel mine.) He recalled being strapped to the litter, then he awoke more than a week later in Japan. He had no recollection of his initial hospitalization on the USS REPOSE.
I won't go into all of his injuries as a result of this trama , but they were quite extensive. One thing that stands out in my mind is the fact that he never complained about his pain . He somehow managed to think of others instead of himself. I'm not saying my brother was an angel; anyone who knew Jerry was aware of his more wild side. But in my eyes and in my heart he was my HERO. A person who saw another person's suffering before his own. I know he is in heaven with our Lord & Savior & now he is at peace & his suffering is over.
I would like to say a few words about Jerry's son William. This young man is very special to me, not only because he is my nephew - but because of the way he loved & accepted his father.. Jerry was a complicated person due to his injuries but also the lifestyle he lived. Jerry's favorite saying was "I do what I want when I want to do it!" He would light up when he talked about William - he was so proud of him! When he said the words "my son" the love he had for him was obvious. William I want to say to you "thank you" - I couldn't have gone through the loss of my Jerry without you love & support. We will always have a part of him with us through you.
The Biography of Gerald "Jerry" L. Hill - written by his sister - Roxanne Zeufeldt
Henry & Delores moved to Seattle, Wa. In 1952 which is where Jerry spend most of his life. He attended Holy Family Grade School & then went on to Chief Sealth High School which is where he graduated.
Jerry did most of the normal things that most boys did growing up in the 50's & the 60's .
When he was young he was an alter boy at Holy Family Church, he belonged to the Boys Club & he had a paper route. We played in the woods & built forts & usually the most fun we had was when Jerry invented a new game to play; like flashlight tag after dark. Sometimes the games we played involved destroying some part of the yard. Jerry usually got in trouble with our dad for this as he liked to keep the yard looking it's best. I think Jerry tried to make up for this since for the last 13 years he's been paying to have the yard kept up & it looks beautiful! Dad would be so proud of him.
The quality I think that stands our the most with my brother is his good & generous heart & his sense of humor. If he could make someone's life easier by giving them money he would - whether he knew them or not. He would be standing behind an elderly woman at the grocery store & the next thing she'd know is he had paid for her groceries. When he was young & had his paper route he'd use his money to buy all the neighbor kids maple bars & whatever candy they wanted. Sometimes dad would have to talk to him & "remind" him that part of the money he collected from his customers had to go towards paying the PI their portion. Sometimes the "reminding" would make Jerry's backside a little "warm" for awhile. He could make people laugh even when they didn't feel like it. For instance I remember the times my husband George or I would take him to the VA Hospital for his appointments. We would be standing in line waiting for his turn to check-in & before you knew it he had everyone laughing that was standing by him. I overheard one gentleman ask Jerry when his next appointment was so he could be sure to be there to talk & laugh with him again.
My husband George & Jerry became very close in the last15 months. After our mother Delores passed away in February of 09 George stepped in to help Jerry. He took him to all his Doctor appointments at the VA Hospital & went over paperwork & bills with him. Jerry needed a little assistance with these things due to his brain damage from his injury. Jerry's left leg was severely damaged also & he was constantly having problems with it over the years. While mom was sick it opened up & was bleeding & draining. George became Jerry's own personal doctor - going to Jerry's house sometimes every other day to put medicine on it & wrap it for him. In fact when Jerry called us (sometimes every day - just to say he loved us) he always asked to speak to his Dr. George. When Jerry was dying one of the doctors at the hospital mentioned his bad leg to me & was amazed at how good it looked - I told her about Dr George. Thank you George, you were like a brother to him.
Jerry loved both of our parents very much, but he had a special relationship with our mother.
When he was little he would write her love notes or make valentines for her. He continued to do this with her in her later years as he lived the last 11 years of her life with her. He also tucked her into bed at night, bought her favorite candies & basically spoiled her in any way that he could. I loved him very much for this as our mother's life was far from easy.
In August 1967 Jerry entered the Army. He spent 8 weeks at Ft. Lewis, Washington & another 8 weeks at Ft. Knox, Kentucky. He was then stationed in Germany but after 6 months there he did something that would change his life & his family's life forever.
Jerry volunteered for service in Viet Nam as so many of his friends were over there & he wanted to join them. Jerry was a tank commander which is what he had trained for. On December 4th 1968 the infantry asked if they could have a volunteer to go with them as they were not familiar with the area. Jerry volunteered again since he knew the area. They ran into Vietnamese troops & he laid prone and prepared to fire his M-79 grenade launcher. His last memory is taking aim and bringing his forearms down to the ground; then he woke up lying on the ground about to be loaded onto a waiting evac chopper. (He apparently lowered his forearms onto an antipersonnel mine.) He recalled being strapped to the litter, then he awoke more than a week later in Japan. He had no recollection of his initial hospitalization on the USS REPOSE.
I won't go into all of his injuries as a result of this trama , but they were quite extensive. One thing that stands out in my mind is the fact that he never complained about his pain . He somehow managed to think of others instead of himself. I'm not saying my brother was an angel; anyone who knew Jerry was aware of his more wild side. But in my eyes and in my heart he was my HERO. A person who saw another person's suffering before his own. I know he is in heaven with our Lord & Savior & now he is at peace & his suffering is over.
I would like to say a few words about Jerry's son William. This young man is very special to me, not only because he is my nephew - but because of the way he loved & accepted his father.. Jerry was a complicated person due to his injuries but also the lifestyle he lived. Jerry's favorite saying was "I do what I want when I want to do it!" He would light up when he talked about William - he was so proud of him! When he said the words "my son" the love he had for him was obvious. William I want to say to you "thank you" - I couldn't have gone through the loss of my Jerry without you love & support. We will always have a part of him with us through you.
The Biography of Gerald "Jerry" L. Hill - written by his sister - Roxanne Zeufeldt
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