Edwin Joseph Hill was born 1895 in Philadelphia, and he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1912. Chief Boatswain Hill was serving on the USS Nevada at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941. Nevada was the only battleship to escape the harbor that day, and Hill led the effort to release the ship from her moorings. He dove off the ship to cast off the lines and swam back to assume his duties on board, but he was killed when a bomb struck the bow. Hill received the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions during the attack (Section A, Grave 895).

*The preceding content is not intended as a comprehensive biography, but it highlights their significance as a result of military or civilian distinction, lasting achievements, or association with impactful national events.

National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific


Edwin Joseph Hill was born on October 4th, 1894, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. He died 7 December 1941 (aged 47) Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, USA. “Hill’s birth records indicate that he was born October 4, 1894, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. However, it is suspected that he was actually born on the tiny Dutch island possession of Saba in the Caribbean Sea. Following the tradition of many in his seafaring Saba extended family, he may have forged an American birth certificate so that he could serve in the United States Navy.” (Vachon). He served during World War II as part of the U.S Navy. He was of the rank Chief Boatswain. On February 14, 1912, Hill enlisted in the Navy. He later was discharged on October 2, 1915, but reenlisted on October 11, 1915. At this time, he agreed to a short-term position as Boatswain on November 3, 1918. In April 1919, he was commanded to work in Submarine Chaser 104 in Key West Florida, and later he was in command of that vessel. He served on the USS Hankook, USS Ontario, and USS Birmingham from 1920 through 1922. That same year, he was given a warrant while in the rank of being a Boatswain. On October 28, 1920, he also married Catherine Coughlin. They had three children together, but he went back to the Navy. “He served on the Receiving Ship San Francisco, and at the Puget Sound Navy Yard from 1922-1924, when he went aboard the USS Maryland and was later transferred to the USS Pennsylvania” (Alvarez). While aboard this vessel, he was commissioned Chief Boatswain from October 21, 1924. 
On December 7, 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, and he was serving on the USS Nevada. He released the dock, and then when the battleship began to sail away, he jumped into the harbor, and swam after the ship and then stepped back the ship to resume the battle. Hill, unfortunately lost his life that day to a bomb explosion that hit the ship, causing the casualties of 47 men, including Edwin Hill. Several of the crewmembers that were young men around the age of 19, thank Hill and credit him for saving their lives by ordering them to hide and seek protection behind the ship’s gun turrets. He is now at rest with several of his crewmates in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu Hawaii. Edwin Joseph Hill aided in defending our country and is forever remembered and we thank him for his service.


EDWIN JOSEPH HILL

Service

WORLD WAR II

US NAVY,

CHBOSN

Resting Place

Mementos

Tributes

Word Cloud

undefined

Milestones

Mementos

Historical Documents

Veteran programs and services

More VA resources

Get VA updates

In crisis? Get help now

Contact us