Robert G. "Bob" Hill

February 23, 2017

Service Details

Robert Gail Hill, 94, passed away at his home surrounded by his loving family on Friday, February 24, 2017.

Bob was born March 30, 1922 in Bondurant, Iowa to Iva (Allen) and Harry Hill. He retired after many years of dedicated service from Reliable Rug Company and Iowa Furniture and Carpet Cleaning. Bob served his country proudly and bravely in The U.S. Navy during WW II. He was a charter member of Christ the King and a member of Ft. Des Moines Little League Hall of Fame, a member of SACO and also of Cummings American Legion.

Bob is survived by his sons, Rick (Lisa), Randy (Ruth), Ron (Lori) and Robert (Lisa) Hill; 11 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren; sisters, Phyllis Desenberg and Honora Tovrea; and other loving family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his loving wife, Lola in December 2016.

The family will greet friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 28, 2017 at Christ the King Catholic Church, 5711 SW 9th Street. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 1, 2017 at the Church. He will be laid to rest at Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Christ the King Catholic Church or Unity Pointe Hospice in loving memory of Bob.

Norwalk Seaman Plays Romantic Dangerous Role
As seen in the Washington D.C. Newspaper in 1946

It can now be revealed that Robert G. Hill, radioman, second class, Norwalk, Iowa, played a role in one of the most romantic and dangerous episodes of the war against Japan- as a member of a naval group of guerrillas, intelligence agents and weather observers behind the Japanese lines in Asia.
The group-now known as SACO-Sino-American Co-operative Organization- began shortly after Pearl Harbor as strictly a weather reporting unit.
Project Grows
The project grew until it was providing the U.S. fleet, the army’s 14th air force and the Chinese and American army headquarters with weather reports and with intelligence on movement of Japanese ships, troops and supplies. Finally, it became a dangerous fighting outfit, killing Japanese, blowing up trains, raiding Japanese outposts. Its activities finally extended all the way from Indo-China to the Gobi desert.
SACO intelligence allowed the 14th air force to mine coastal waters, forcing Japanese shipping out to sea, where they were attacked by American submarines, on information from SACO.
Weather information helped the navy decide when to stage invasions on Japanese Islands and raids on the Japanese homeland.
Slip Though Japanese Lines
Usually it was possible to enter or depart from Japanese territory by air, but SACO Americans became adept at Chinese disguises and guided by SACO Chinese, slipped through enemy lines when they chose. Through months and years not one SACO member was detected.

Online condolences may be directed to
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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