Readiness

Marine Sgt. Gary L. Hill was awarded the Silver Star medal at the Tuscaloosa Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center here June 7, 2013. Hill received the nation’s third highest award for combat heroism for actions as a fire team leader while he deployed to Vietnam in 1967. Retired Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Charles C. Krulak presented Hill with the distinction. When his platoon commander was shot and killed, then-Lance Cpl. Hill rallied his fire team to locate and kill an enemy. He then single-handedly bounded to an enemy trench line and killed three North Vietnamese Army soldiers. Hill then ordered his fire team to provide suppressive fires as he maneuvered to locate an NVA sniper. Once the sniper was exposed, Hill and his team killed the sniper and evacuated wounded comrades to safety. His actions saved the lives of eight Marines.