Robert was drafted on October 14, 1941 into the U.S. Army during World War II. He first went to Fort Hayes, Columbus, Ohio for indoctrination and shortly thereafter went to Edgewood Arsenal, Middle River, Maryland where he was assigned to Company C, 1st C.W.S. Training Battalion.
In December 1941, he was assigned to Company B, 3rd Chemical Mortar Battalion at Fort Benning, Georgia. The battalion was transferred to Fort Bliss, Texas, in April 1942.
In June 1942 he was promoted to Sergeant.
While on leave in June 1942 he became engaged to his sweetheart, Lucille E. Anderson.
On April 20, 1943, he shipped overseas to Oran, Algeria and was attached to the 3rd Infantry Division "Rock of the Marne".
On July 10, 1943 they invaded Sicily in 'Operation Husky'. As chemical warfare was not used in WW II, the 3rd Chemical Mortar Battalion was employed as a mortar support unit firing 4.2 inch, 22 pound mortars.
In late October 1943 they invaded Italy as part of the "Naples-Foggia" campaign.
On January 5, 1944, Bob's battalion began a push toward the Rapido River north of Monte Cassino, Italy. On January 11th they spent the night firing mortars near Cerasuolo and the following day were resting near the company headquarters when a flight of German Messerschmitt ME-109's bombed the company headquarters completely demolishing it. Five officers and fifteen enlisted men, including Sergeant Robert Horace Hillard, were killed.
He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and French Croix de Guerrer.
His fiancé, Lucille Anderson, died at age 78 on March 1998, she never married.
Robert was drafted on October 14, 1941 into the U.S. Army during World War II. He first went to Fort Hayes, Columbus, Ohio for indoctrination and shortly thereafter went to Edgewood Arsenal, Middle River, Maryland where he was assigned to Company C, 1st C.W.S. Training Battalion.
In December 1941, he was assigned to Company B, 3rd Chemical Mortar Battalion at Fort Benning, Georgia. The battalion was transferred to Fort Bliss, Texas, in April 1942.
In June 1942 he was promoted to Sergeant.
While on leave in June 1942 he became engaged to his sweetheart, Lucille E. Anderson.
On April 20, 1943, he shipped overseas to Oran, Algeria and was attached to the 3rd Infantry Division "Rock of the Marne".
On July 10, 1943 they invaded Sicily in 'Operation Husky'. As chemical warfare was not used in WW II, the 3rd Chemical Mortar Battalion was employed as a mortar support unit firing 4.2 inch, 22 pound mortars.
In late October 1943 they invaded Italy as part of the "Naples-Foggia" campaign.
On January 5, 1944, Bob's battalion began a push toward the Rapido River north of Monte Cassino, Italy. On January 11th they spent the night firing mortars near Cerasuolo and the following day were resting near the company headquarters when a flight of German Messerschmitt ME-109's bombed the company headquarters completely demolishing it. Five officers and fifteen enlisted men, including Sergeant Robert Horace Hillard, were killed.
He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and French Croix de Guerrer.
His fiancé, Lucille Anderson, died at age 78 on March 1998, she never married.
Family Members
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Savalla Elizabeth Hillard Cornelius
1898–1967
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David Deloss Hillard
1900–1979
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Rose Agness Hillard Cavness
1901–1983
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James Paul Hillard
1903–1980
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Lawrence Hillard
1905–1954
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Alice Audrey Hillard Sausaman
1907–1990
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Stanley Ritchison Hillard
1909–1977
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Harriet Jeanette Hillard Sausaman
1911–2000
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John M. Hillard
1912–1990
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Mildred Ruth Hillard Spangler
1918–1995
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Lenora Hillard Foster
1921–2013
