If one is
seeking greatness in man, it’s not necessary to search the annals of
history, the great seats of government, important sports arenas, or
the cultural centers of the world. Although greatness is there,
one can remain close to home and find it right here in this room.
There are those among us who touch our lives and provide us with excitement,
optimism, fulfillment and inspiration. They leave a lasting impact,
directing our lives in positive ways. Such a person was O.B. Hill.
His clear vision, positive energy flow, untiring effort, and inveterate
generosity is responsible for our being here today at this 28th
annual reunion of our great association.
It all
began in 1974, during the 30th anniversary of D-Day.
While visiting the grave site of his company commander, Captain [Gerard
A.] Ruddy, O.B. was inspired to use his boundless energies and other
personal resources to get troopers of the 508th together
again. That he did, in his usual productive style. The idea
became a historic reality the following year, 1975, when a surprising
133 veterans and family from coast to coast gathered on Independence
Day weekend at the Marriott O’Hare in Chicago. It was there that
the Association was formed with O.B. elected as first President.
The following
year, as the roster grew, the Association, again, met at the same place
and O.B. was named Permanent Chairman. Through his persuasive
leadership and persistent nurturing, successful reunions continued annually,
with the roster number of members and associate members topping at one
thousand, four hundred and fifteen in 1995.
O.B.’s wit and
colorful sense of humor and his concern for the welfare of all Association
members made the reunions, often with foreign and other airborne guests,
fun and interesting. You recall that he arranged reunion side
trips to Mexico, Hawaii, Alaska and other places.
As the Association’s
respected European Ambassador, O.B. arranged several trips abroad for
us and helped to establish numerous World War II monuments here and
overseas honoring the Regiment. He seemed to personally know half
of the people in Normandy and practically all of them knew of him.
In fact, they named a village street and connecting plaza in his honor
during D-Day ceremonies in 1998. He later stated that they did
it so he wouldn’t get lost on his next visit there. To personalize
airborne history, it was good to see O.B. participating in D-Day TV
documentaries on the History station. In his honor and in appreciation
for his devotion to the Association, the Company O.B. Hill Program that
you witnessed at the Memorial Breakfast was established during the Atlanta
reunion in 1994, with certificates awarded the following year in Cody,
Wyoming. During those years O.B. often had to exercise courage
and spunk with the Board of Directors and, sometimes with the membership,
to promote the interests of the Association.
Here are a few
facts on O.B.’s life:
He was born in
Fort Branch, Indiana on October 8, 1921 and, wearing the usual long
white gown, was christened “Owen”. I don’t know what the “B” represents
… probably a family secret. Word has it that as a baby, O.B. often
jumped out of his crib, always landing softly on his feet or maybe on
his behind. Word has it that, as a lad, O.B. would jump off of
high places, including the second story porch, always landing softly
on his feet. Later, as a youth, he didn’t jump but literally –
fell in love, and landed softly into his marriage with Margaret on October
21, 1940. They have two children, pre-war Linda (born on August
12, 1941). I’m sure that a picture of Margaret and Linda adorned
the inside of O.B.’s army helmet in combat. Joe was post-war (born
on September 14, 1948). I am informed that O.B. was a superb husband
and father and provided for his family in every possible way, as he
provided for his 508th family.
After Pearl Harbor,
with his love for excitement and adventure, O.B. volunteered for the
paratroops and after basic training at Camp Wolters, Texas was sent
to the Jump School at Fort Benning. Decades later, as a recognized
airborne leader, O.B. was honored during the 1998 STATIC LINE Airborne
Awards Festival as the AIRBORNE MAN OF THE YEAR. There he was
privileged to give the graduation address to the troopers on April 23.
As a trainee, little did he dream that his airborne stature would some
day reach that distinguished point. In his address to the intrepid
graduates, he alluded to his own training in September of 1942.
He recalled that his visiting father, a coal miner, noted that the troopers
stood out from the rest of the soldiers (quote) “Like jewels in a pile
of ordinary rocks – (nice simile) -- like jewels in a pile of ordinary
rocks – with a different attitude and classy spirit.” That attitude
and spirit certainly exemplifies O.B.’s passion for life and his vigilant
ideals of patriotism and duty.
When the First
Battalion of the 508th completed Jump School, O.B. was later
promoted to Sergeant as the Messenger Center Chief.
After the Normandy
jump, O.B. was wounded on June 13 and after a hospital stay, was reunited
with his Company in Sissonne, France in early December in time for the
Regiment’s third jump. This time from the back of semi-trucks
in Belgium. On January 25, 1945 he was again wounded. (The
Krauts were determined to get him.) After more hospital treatment,
he was returned stateside in August and was discharged in December.
O.B. returned
to his family in Indiana and earned a degree in accounting and business
from the University of Evansville. Along with his keen business
sense, few know that O.B. was also a scholar of English and literature.
Would you believe that O.B.’s first professional position was with the
Internal Revenue Service as an agent? After two years of scaring
the hell out of taxpayers, he went to work for Hughes Aircraft in California.
After a serious heart attack in 1986, he officially retired to reside
in Cathedral City, where he and Margaret continued their unrelenting
work with the Association, including much background work for this reunion.
After learning
of O.B.’s calling on June 10, I was meditating on O.B.’s human compassion
(he made the least essential of us feel important), his joy of life,
and his love and concern for the 508th family. During
that meditation, I experienced a mysterious vision, elevating me into
some sort of metaphysical plane --- observing what was going on at Heaven’s
Gate. You know, with about 15 hundred World War II veterans showing
up each day, St. Peter has a tremendous logistical problem on his hands
processing all of those souls. In order to move things along in
good order, I observed that St. Peter ordered St. Michael, the patron
of paratroopers, to separate the troopers from the rest of the veterans,
and, because they suffered enough at Jump School and combat to give
them a quick pass through the Golden Gate. St. Michael did just
that, but to be fair to the other veterans, he thought it right to give
each trooper a quick and easy entrance test. The first trooper
in line (a 505’er) was asked to spell he word “God”. – ‘g – u
– d’ – “Close enough, you’re in.” About that time a dignified
figure of fine Spanish bearing and authority stepped from the paradise
side of the gate to check out the new crop of recruits. He spotted
O.B.. at the head of the line and with a twinkle in his eye and a mischievous
smile walked over to St. Michael and pointing to O.B. whispered something
in his ear. St. Michael nodded and beckoned O.B. forward.
O.B. immediately stepped forward and without waiting for the question,
eagerly recited “Capital G – o – d” and stepped toward the crossing
line. St. Michael’s strong arm guarded the gate with a “Hold it,
buddy, the Colonel wants you to spell NEBUCHADNEZZAR.”
Yes, as we celebrate
O.B.’s life, we can laugh together, remembering the many good times
… and we cry together, mourning our loss. But more important we
rejoice and thank God that O.B. not only touched our lives, but embraced
us with his kindness, generous spirit, and good will. He made
us better people and made our lives more enjoyable. O.B. was a
great man.
O.B. ended all
of his STATIC LINE column messages with this closing and, on behalf
of O.B., it is my privilege to offer you all,
“BEST AIRBORNE
WISHES AND SOFT LANDINGS ALWAYS.”
Margaret, Linda
and Joe, we thank you for sharing O.B.’s life with us.
(Delivered by Norb Studelska, Laughlin, NV, August 6,
2002)
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