Joseph Hill

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Corporal Joseph Hill served his entire tour (13 months) with India Company, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division. He was honored as Delaware’s representative during the 2021 Purple Heart Patriot Project Mission.

“The only times I was away from my company was on a R&R to Hong Kong, when I was wounded and spent time on the Hospital Ship Sanctuary, and at the Da Nang Naval Hospital. I was wounded for the second time in August 1967 and returned to my company in late September 1967,” Hill said.

“Any Marine who has spent time in combat will tell you that your world gets very small. You rarely if ever are aware of the big picture of combat, but just the battle that surrounds you. My company fought in the Que Son Valley against the NVA from April 1967 till I left Viet Nam in October 1967. The battles were fought at close combat with heavy losses on both sides. The names of these operations were Union I, Union II, and Swift. One of the NVA tactics was to isolate Marine Company's and then attempt to over run them. I remember during Union I, my company was ambushed and had suffered heavy casualties. The NVA was attempting to over run us at night, they were yelling "Marine you Die" as they advanced towards us. We fought all night and although we suffered more casualties we held on ‘till daybreak,” he continued.

“It wasn't until that morning that I realized that I had been wounded. During combat you ignore pain, and fear with just the will to live and to help your fellow Marines to survive,” said Hill. “I took most of the combat I lived through and buried it inside of me, only to resurface many years later. My heart still aches for the people we lost in my company.”