Military Service Snapshot
Courtesy Stancil Family Reunion Archive
For a full account of George's distinguished 28-year military career—including his Bronze Star for Valor, his time as an Army tugboat skipper in Vietnam, and his service in Korea—see his dedicated military profile.
George Preston "G.P." Hill Jr., the third child and second son of George Preston and Pearl Edwards Hill, was born Oct. 15, 1926, in Kenly, North Carolina.
G.P. joined the Coast Guard prior to WWII. When the war was over he stayed in Portsmouth, Virginia. He went to work in the Colonial Grocery Store as a produce clerk.
Margaret Pope worked in the drug store next door.
They met, fell in love, and married in Portsmouth. Marriage was expensive and George decided there was security for his wife if he joined the Army.
Between the Coast Guard and Army, he was in the service for 28 years. He was in WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War, and Bay of Pigs. He won the Bronze Star for Valor in Vietnam.
George and Margaret had three children, Georgia Sandra, Vickie Sue, and Joseph Preston "Joe."
Sandra, born on Oct. 2, 1948, married Eric Paul Boyd on May 2, 1970. They have a daughter Paula Denise Boyd. She married Grant Matthew Paul on Aug. 25, 2001.
Vickie, born in 1951, married Robert Glenn Joyner on June 21, 1969.
Joe, born in 1959, married Linda Eloise Sutton on Aug. 9, 1980.
George died April 14, 1988, in the VA medical center in Durham, North Carolina. He is buried in the Greenwood Cemetery in Greenville, North Carolina.
— Renn Stancil Hinton, daughter of George Ralph Stancil
Military Service Overview
George Preston Hill Jr. served in the military for 28 years, with a distinguished career that included service in the Coast Guard during World War II and a long tenure in the Army. He participated in several major conflicts, including World War II, the Korean War, two tours of Vietnam, and the Bay of Pigs invasion. He was awarded the Bronze Star for Valor for his actions during the Vietnam War. For more details on his military service, please refer to his dedicated military profile.
George Preston Hill served in the Army for 28 years.
George Preston Hill was in the Coast Guard before he married Margaret Lucille Pope. He was in the Coast Guard for four years, from 1942 to 1946.
His rank in the Coast Guard is unknown. He joined the Army in 1947 and retired with 28 years in the Service. He retired June 1972.
He took part in the Korean War and two tours of Vietnam. He also participated in the testing of the "H" bomb.
His rank was CW2 and was a tug boat pilot and also was licensed harbor pilot. His favorite duty station was in Panama. Dad, Mom and Joe was stationed in Okinawa for 15 months when George had his heart attack and was sent home to the States for open heart surgery.
George Preston Hill received several medals while in the service. Some include the Army Commendation Medal with "V" device and the Bronze Star with "V."
Source: Joseph Preston Hill, July 11, 2008
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