recognized that these younger sailors, being completely mentally unprepared for a sudden full-scale sneak attack, would have been at great risk of becoming "cannon fodder", prompting his order for them to take cover.) These former sailors mention that Hill, who was 47 years old at the time of the attack and had 30 years of naval service, had a level of respect on par with the captain of the Nevada himself. Hill, his wife Catherine, and their three young children resided in Long Beach, California. For his heroism during the Pearl Harbor action, Chief Boatswain Hill posthumously received the Medal of Honor. He is buried in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (plot A-895) in Honolulu, Hawaii. His grave can be found in section A, grave 895. Namesake In 1943, the United States Navy named a destroyer escort in his honor. Medal of Honor citation 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 December 7, 1941. During the height of the strafing and bombing, Chief Boatswain Hill led his men of the linehandling 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. See also List of Medal of Honor recipients References 1894 births 1941 deaths United States Navy personnel killed in World War II American people of Dutch Antillean descent United States Navy Medal of Honor recipients United States Navy sailors Deaths by Japanese airstrikes during the attack on Pearl Harbor Military personnel from Philadelphia World War II recipients of the Medal of Honor Deaths by airstrike during World War II Burials in Hawaii Burials in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific