| PersonID | 19651605 |
| Name | Hill, Howard John |
| Branch | U. S. Air Force |
| Current Status | Retired |
| Graduation | 1965 |
| Squadron | CS 20 |
| Home Town | El Paso |
| Home State | TX |
| High School | Rantoul Township H. S., Rantoul, IL |
| High School Activities | Football Manager |
| Post High School | |
| Academy Experiences | Dodo Staff |
| Academic Degree Major | USAFA - B.S., no major,
Central Michigan University, MA, Management and Supervision |
| Active Duty Assignments Before Capture | Pilot Training, Laughlin AFB TX; F-4 upgrade training; F-4D, 555 Tac Fighter Squadron, Ubon AB, Thailand. |
| Capture Conflict | Vietnam |
| Combat Information | Previously earned Silver Star for a mission on 24 Oct 1967. |
| Capture Mission | Early morning escort mission into the most highly defended area of the hostile forces. Exposed to continuous hostile artillery fire and made repeated attacks against a superior number of hostile aircraft to insure success of the primary mission.A MIG 21 fired an air-to-air missile into his aircraft, forcing ejection. Parachuted into a heavily populated area northeast of Hanoi and transported to the infamous Hanoi Hilton. |
| MIA Information and Dates | Altlhough captured immediately, was carried as MIA until 5 August 1968. His pilot was released from captivity on 4 August 1968 and confirmed that Lt Hill was a POW |
| Capture Date | 12/16/1967 |
| POW Locations and Dates | Hanoi Hilton Dec 16 1967 until March 14 1973 |
| Release Date | 3/14/1973 |
| Rank at Capture | 1st Lt |
| Rank at Release | Capt |
| Military and Civilian Jobs after Release | Pilot 1402 MASq, Andrews AFB; ACSC; Manpower and Organization, HQ MAC, Scott AFB; 20th MASq, Charleston AFB; Wing Operational Training, 437 MAW, Charleston AFB; Principal Advisor to SECDEF on POW/MIA Affairs, The Pentagon; Special Assistant to DIA |
| Burial Site | N/A |
| Aeronautical Speciality Rating | Command Pilot |
| Notable Military & Civilian Decorations & Awards | Silver Star (2), Defense Superior Srvice Medal, Legion of Merit, DFC, Bronze Star with "V" (2), Purple Heart (2), MSM (2), Air Medal (8), AFCM (2), POW medal |
| Comments | Retired 1 July 1989 as a Colonel |
