Hills, Francis (Interview transcript and video), 2018

Smither, James (Interviewer)

Frank Hills was born in Hartford, Connecticut in 1943. Hills attended schooling in Connecticut through high school before graduating in 1961 and leaving for Iowa on a football scholarship, where he played as a defensive back on the college football team before graduating 2 semesters late in 1966. Following undergraduate school Hills attended Kent College of Law, a part of the Illinois Institute of Technology, before receiving his draft notice the second semester for the Vietnam War. After being granted an extension, he went to a recruiter to enlist and attend Officer Candidate School. Following the end of the semester, he was sent to Fort Polk, Louisiana to complete basic training, and then to Fort Leonard Wood for Advanced Individual Training in engineering for eight weeks. After a week off, Hills was then moved to Fort Bennington for Officer Candidate School: 26 weeks of infantry classes including map reading, tactics, mortars, artillery fire and field exercises. Three weeks before the end of the OCS program, Hills volunteered to be part of the Scout Dog Program, requiring him to attend Jump School, Ranger School, and Scout Dog School. In March 1970, Hills flew over to Vietnam, landing at Tan Son Nhut airport in Saigon and staying for a full year as part of the 58th Scout Dog Platoon in the 101st Airborne Division, 3rd Brigade at Camp Evans. He recalls scout dogs being imperative to detecting early signs of danger and giving ‘strong, silent warnings.’ Hills was aware of some racial tensions among units but had no issues himself. After a year of service, Hills returned from Vietnam and stayed in the military, taking on a new assignment in Fort Dix as an instructor on the Weapons Committee. Shortly after. he went to the Special Forces Officer Course and spent 10 years in Special Forces Assignment before transferring to Infantry and attending Command and General Staff College. During the integration of women officers in the 70’s, Hills was aware of tensions but had no issues with female officers. Hills was transferred to Force Combat Quarters in Atlanta where he helped staff Desert Storm with temporary-assignment reserve and guard, and in 1996 achieved the rank of Colonel. He retired in 1998 and started a manufacturer’s rep firm and says he has no plans to retire.

2018-10

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Grand Valley State University Libraries, Special Collections & University Archives, 1 Campus Drive, Allendale, MI, 49401.

Veterans History Project (U.S.)

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