Don Rey Hillard is the son and only child born to Homer Edwin and Edna Emily Ray (Helfer) Hillard. He was born at Miss. Martin's Private Hospital in Santa Monica, California on October 17, 1920.
Don attended grade schools in Torrance, Long Beach, Bakersfield and Compton, all in California. In 1938, he graduated from Analy Union High School, Sebastopol, California and then attended Santa Rosa Junior College and Compton Junior College. He worked for North American Aviation and became a lead in building wings for the P-15 Mustang.
On May 29, 1944, Don enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He was stationed at San Diego Navy Base and was assigned to Co. 44-341. On June 2, 1944, he took and passed tests for Officer's Training School. In July 1944, he was selected for Radar Training School and received his diploma on August 14, 1944. He then transferred to Camp Elliot, California, and on December 18, 1944, with the rating of Radar man 2/C he was assigned to the Attack Transport U.S.S. Drew, A.P.A. 162, under the command of Captain Jensen. After the termination of hostilities, he received his honorable discharge with a rating of Radarman 2/C on May 30, 1946, at Terminal Island Base, Long Beach, California.
On August 17, 1946, Don Reh Hillard and Elma Carol Kastner of Los Angeles, California, were married at the Normandy Wedding Chapel in Long Beach, California by the Rev. Johnston Calhoun, a Presbyterian Minister.
Children:
• Stephen Ray (1947-__)
• Carol Lynn (1950-2010)
• Kenneth Lee (1953-1999)
Don was employed for eighteen years by North American Aviation, at Inglewood, California where he worked on T-6, P-51 (wing buildup), F-86, B-45, and F-100 (fuselage) aircraft.
In 1960, Don and Elma built a four bedroom house on three acres in Forestville, California. In October of 1962, Don went to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on a contract for TWA Airlines where his family joined him until Elma and the children returned to the States to finish the children's schooling. When Don returned to the States, he went to work for United Air Lines at the San Francisco International Airport. Don and Elma then built another two bedroom house on two and one half acres where they resided in retirement at 5750 Orchard Lane, Forestville, California.
Elma passed away February 19, 2011.
In November 2019, Don became ill with suspected Norovirus and went to Sutter Home Hospital. After several brief stays ended up at Spring Creek Lodge in Santa Rosa.
Don attended grade schools in Torrance, Long Beach, Bakersfield and Compton, all in California. In 1938, he graduated from Analy Union High School, Sebastopol, California and then attended Santa Rosa Junior College and Compton Junior College. He worked for North American Aviation and became a lead in building wings for the P-15 Mustang.
On May 29, 1944, Don enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He was stationed at San Diego Navy Base and was assigned to Co. 44-341. On June 2, 1944, he took and passed tests for Officer's Training School. In July 1944, he was selected for Radar Training School and received his diploma on August 14, 1944. He then transferred to Camp Elliot, California, and on December 18, 1944, with the rating of Radar man 2/C he was assigned to the Attack Transport U.S.S. Drew, A.P.A. 162, under the command of Captain Jensen. After the termination of hostilities, he received his honorable discharge with a rating of Radarman 2/C on May 30, 1946, at Terminal Island Base, Long Beach, California.
On August 17, 1946, Don Reh Hillard and Elma Carol Kastner of Los Angeles, California, were married at the Normandy Wedding Chapel in Long Beach, California by the Rev. Johnston Calhoun, a Presbyterian Minister.
Children:
• Stephen Ray (1947-__)
• Carol Lynn (1950-2010)
• Kenneth Lee (1953-1999)
Don was employed for eighteen years by North American Aviation, at Inglewood, California where he worked on T-6, P-51 (wing buildup), F-86, B-45, and F-100 (fuselage) aircraft.
In 1960, Don and Elma built a four bedroom house on three acres in Forestville, California. In October of 1962, Don went to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on a contract for TWA Airlines where his family joined him until Elma and the children returned to the States to finish the children's schooling. When Don returned to the States, he went to work for United Air Lines at the San Francisco International Airport. Don and Elma then built another two bedroom house on two and one half acres where they resided in retirement at 5750 Orchard Lane, Forestville, California.
Elma passed away February 19, 2011.
In November 2019, Don became ill with suspected Norovirus and went to Sutter Home Hospital. After several brief stays ended up at Spring Creek Lodge in Santa Rosa.
Don Rey Hillard is the son and only child born to Homer Edwin and Edna Emily Ray (Helfer) Hillard. He was born at Miss. Martin's Private Hospital in Santa Monica, California on October 17, 1920.
Don attended grade schools in Torrance, Long Beach, Bakersfield and Compton, all in California. In 1938, he graduated from Analy Union High School, Sebastopol, California and then attended Santa Rosa Junior College and Compton Junior College. He worked for North American Aviation and became a lead in building wings for the P-15 Mustang.
On May 29, 1944, Don enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He was stationed at San Diego Navy Base and was assigned to Co. 44-341. On June 2, 1944, he took and passed tests for Officer's Training School. In July 1944, he was selected for Radar Training School and received his diploma on August 14, 1944. He then transferred to Camp Elliot, California, and on December 18, 1944, with the rating of Radar man 2/C he was assigned to the Attack Transport U.S.S. Drew, A.P.A. 162, under the command of Captain Jensen. After the termination of hostilities, he received his honorable discharge with a rating of Radarman 2/C on May 30, 1946, at Terminal Island Base, Long Beach, California.
On August 17, 1946, Don Reh Hillard and Elma Carol Kastner of Los Angeles, California, were married at the Normandy Wedding Chapel in Long Beach, California by the Rev. Johnston Calhoun, a Presbyterian Minister.
Children:
• Stephen Ray (1947-__)
• Carol Lynn (1950-2010)
• Kenneth Lee (1953-1999)
Don was employed for eighteen years by North American Aviation, at Inglewood, California where he worked on T-6, P-51 (wing buildup), F-86, B-45, and F-100 (fuselage) aircraft.
In 1960, Don and Elma built a four bedroom house on three acres in Forestville, California. In October of 1962, Don went to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on a contract for TWA Airlines where his family joined him until Elma and the children returned to the States to finish the children's schooling. When Don returned to the States, he went to work for United Air Lines at the San Francisco International Airport. Don and Elma then built another two bedroom house on two and one half acres where they resided in retirement at 5750 Orchard Lane, Forestville, California.
Elma passed away February 19, 2011.
In November 2019, Don became ill with suspected Norovirus and went to Sutter Home Hospital. After several brief stays ended up at Spring Creek Lodge in Santa Rosa.
Don attended grade schools in Torrance, Long Beach, Bakersfield and Compton, all in California. In 1938, he graduated from Analy Union High School, Sebastopol, California and then attended Santa Rosa Junior College and Compton Junior College. He worked for North American Aviation and became a lead in building wings for the P-15 Mustang.
On May 29, 1944, Don enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He was stationed at San Diego Navy Base and was assigned to Co. 44-341. On June 2, 1944, he took and passed tests for Officer's Training School. In July 1944, he was selected for Radar Training School and received his diploma on August 14, 1944. He then transferred to Camp Elliot, California, and on December 18, 1944, with the rating of Radar man 2/C he was assigned to the Attack Transport U.S.S. Drew, A.P.A. 162, under the command of Captain Jensen. After the termination of hostilities, he received his honorable discharge with a rating of Radarman 2/C on May 30, 1946, at Terminal Island Base, Long Beach, California.
On August 17, 1946, Don Reh Hillard and Elma Carol Kastner of Los Angeles, California, were married at the Normandy Wedding Chapel in Long Beach, California by the Rev. Johnston Calhoun, a Presbyterian Minister.
Children:
• Stephen Ray (1947-__)
• Carol Lynn (1950-2010)
• Kenneth Lee (1953-1999)
Don was employed for eighteen years by North American Aviation, at Inglewood, California where he worked on T-6, P-51 (wing buildup), F-86, B-45, and F-100 (fuselage) aircraft.
In 1960, Don and Elma built a four bedroom house on three acres in Forestville, California. In October of 1962, Don went to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on a contract for TWA Airlines where his family joined him until Elma and the children returned to the States to finish the children's schooling. When Don returned to the States, he went to work for United Air Lines at the San Francisco International Airport. Don and Elma then built another two bedroom house on two and one half acres where they resided in retirement at 5750 Orchard Lane, Forestville, California.
Elma passed away February 19, 2011.
In November 2019, Don became ill with suspected Norovirus and went to Sutter Home Hospital. After several brief stays ended up at Spring Creek Lodge in Santa Rosa.
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