Edwin Joseph Hill

On December 7, 1941, Nevada broke free under fire. Hill swam back.

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Edwin Joseph Hill enlisted in the United States Navy in 1912. He rose through the enlisted ranks, became a warrant officer and reached the rank of Chief Boatswain. He was serving aboard USS Nevada (BB-36) when Japanese aircraft attacked Pearl Harbor.

As aircraft strafed and bombed the fleet, Hill led Nevada's line-handling detail to the quays and cast off the battleship's mooring lines. He then swam back to Nevada as the ship got underway. Later, on the exposed forecastle, he tried to release the anchors as Nevada attempted to beach near Hospital Point. Several bombs exploded, blowing him overboard and killing him.

Hill received the Medal of Honor posthumously. His death from enemy action qualified him for the Purple Heart. His rack includes the American Defense Service Medal, with a provisionally recorded Fleet clasp, and the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, with one bronze star for the Pearl Harbor-Midway engagement. It also includes the World War II Victory Medal. His World War I Victory Medal is recorded provisionally without a clasp.

The Navy named the destroyer escort USS Hill (DE-141) in his honor. He is buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu.

Medal of Honor citation

For distinguished conduct in the line of his profession, extraordinary courage, and disregard of his own safety during the attack on the Fleet in Pearl Harbor, by Japanese forces on 7 December 1941. During the height of the strafing and bombing, Chief Boatswain Hill led his men of the line-handling details of the U.S.S. Nevada to the quays, cast off the lines and swam back to his ship. Later, while on the forecastle, attempting to let go the anchors, he was blown overboard and killed by the explosion of several bombs.