Henry Hill
Henry Hill Jr., of Anoka, MN, served in the US Army as an infantry officer and was stationed in South Vietnam in 1968 as a platoon leader in Quang Ngai province. He was assigned to Company C, 3rd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment.
Henry at Mankato State University, track team.
Henry represented in an exhibit at ACHS, 2006.
Application for Henry’s headstone, signed by Harold Turner, 1968.
Filling in the Gaps
Sometimes, the people who deployed to Vietnam didn’t come home. Their story is left for us to tell from family, school records, and friends.
Have you had a family member deploy in the military? Imagine what it would feel like to have a friend of yours leave to serve in a war and be killed overseas. What would you do to feel better? How would you make sure other people remembered your friend?
Digging Deeper
It’s normal and healthy to feel grief over the loss of a loved one, regardless of how they died. Here are some suggestions that might help when you experience this:
1. Allow Yourself to Grieve: Understand that grief is a natural response to loss. Give yourself permission to feel a range of emotions—sadness, anger, confusion. It's important to let yourself process these feelings rather than suppress them.
2. Reach Out for Support: Don't hesitate to connect with others who may understand or share your pain. Talk to mutual friends, family members, or seek professional support. Sharing your feelings with someone you trust can be incredibly healing.
3. Honor Their Memory: Find meaningful ways to remember your loved one. This could involve creating a scrapbook, making a donation in their name, or participating in a memorial event. Celebrating their life can help you keep their memory alive.
4. Stay Informed, But Set Boundaries: While it’s important to understand the context of the death, constantly immersing yourself in the news can be overwhelming. Set limits on how much information you consume to protect your emotional well-being.
5. Engage in Self-Care: Prioritize your mental and physical health during this difficult time. Engage in activities that bring you joy or peace, whether that's spending time outdoors, engaging in hobbies, or practicing mindfulness techniques like meditation.
Henry was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 1944, and moved to Anoka in 1957 with his parents when he was 13 years old. His father, Henry Sr., owned and operated Quality Dry Cleaners and Launders in downtown Anoka, and he and his family were members of the Anoka Methodist Church. Henry Jr. attended Anoka High School, where he was the only Black student in his class, and excelled in both academics and athletics. He was a member of the school’s track, cross-country, and basketball teams, and was also Anoka High School’s first Black senior president. He graduated in the class of 1962 and immediately began attending Mankato State College (now Mankato State University) to pursue a degree in business administration. At Mankato State, Henry was the captain of the track and field team, where once again he excelled; he lettered three times, led the team to a state title, and was even named as Mankato State’s Most Outstanding Athlete in 1966. Tragically, Henry’s father passed away in 1964.
He graduated in 1966 and received his draft notice in October of the same year. Henry applied to the US Army’s Officer Candidate School and received his commission as a second lieutenant in the winter of 1967. Henry married his wife, Rita, on June 10th, 1968, and only six days later shipped out for South Vietnam. He was assigned as a platoon leader in the 3rd Battalion of the 1st Infantry Regiment, and joined his unit in Quang Ngai province under the jurisdiction of I Corps.
Henry was in Vietnam for 66 days before he was killed in action by a grenade while his platoon was on patrol on August 23rd, 1968. He was posthumously awarded both the Bronze and Silver Stars. Henry’s mother, Albertha, received the notice of her son’s death only two hours before her second wedding.
Henry’s body was taken to Louisiana to be buried near his father, and he was posthumously inducted into Mankato State’s Athletic Hall of Fame. Famed writer and fellow Anoka High School graduate Garrison Keillor wrote and performed a tribute song to Henry Hill in the May 29, 2010, episode of the radio show A Prairie Home Companion. An article in the Aug 30, 1968 edition of the Anoka County Union read: “Those who knew him well–his teammates, coaches, classmates, and the like–had no finer friend. He was rarely without a smile, his manner was gracious, and the only one who was unimpressed with his achievements was Henry himself.”