Nebraska Navy veteran reflects being in WWII

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – 95-year-old Gilbert Hill is main a really full life.

He attended Nebraska Wesleyan, the place he was a three-sport athlete. Hill went on to educate at two totally different excessive faculties, get married, and have kids.

Gilbert and his spouse Nancy nonetheless prefer to go dancing however earlier than all of that Hill lived one other life as a member of america Navy throughout WWII.

Gilbert Hill was 18 years previous when he signed as much as be part of the Navy.

“They mentioned you’re nonetheless in highschool, return and end, after which we’ll take you the day after you graduate which they did, they despatched me from Omaha on a prepare to Farragut, Idaho,” mentioned Hill.

Gilbert spent 9 months in primary coaching and he would find yourself within the Philippines aboard the Manderson Victory, Gilbert was a clerk however everybody on the ship needed to carry out hazardous obligation.

“I didn’t know on the time however after I bought on it they mentioned you recognize what our cargo is, I mentioned I don’t know they usually mentioned 9,000 tons of ammo. That might have been a giant firecracker.”

“You realize you’re 18 and also you’re simply doing what you’re instructed, didn’t trouble me. Fortuitously, the enemy didn’t know what we have been carrying so our hassle was minimal, our principal hassle was getting alongside the battleships and the cruisers and unloading all of the ammo.”

Gilbert says they have been within the Pacific when the warfare was raging on having no concept of the significance of the second.

“I solely realized I used to be the place I used to be speculated to be and I used to be part of one thing large however I didn’t notice in any respect how large.”

At that second, these years have been large, many consult with Gilbert and his buddies as a part of the best technology.

“Effectively as a result of we have been the primary technology that went to 2 wars, each world wars OK, World Struggle I and World Struggle II and we grew to become the best technology so far as different folks have been involved as a result of it was our job to save lots of the world.”

Gilbert’s spouse Nancy is pleased with her husband and everybody that placed on the uniform in WWII.

“Effectively they have been essential to this nation and to our salvation and to our future you recognize they paved the best way,” mentioned Nancy.

Gilbert says he used to remain in contact with a few of his buddies from the warfare however not a lot anymore.

“Only a few of them are nonetheless alive, as a result of you recognize I’m 95 going to be 96.”

That’s why it’s essential for us to recollect and honor Gilbert and everybody else that’s a part of our biggest technology.

Gilbert Hill grew up in Chadron, Nebraska.

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