LTC Glen Alan Hill  (COL retired)

Commanding Officer of the 720th Military Police Battalion
28 July 1965 to 15 January 1967, Fort Hood to Vietnam

  Colonel Hill was inducted to the United States Army, Military Police Regimental Hall of Fame in 2003.

He was known as a Soldiers Soldier, a Military Policeman, scholar, humanitarian, and an outstanding Commander, who's tremendous abilities had an impact on not only the Military Police Corps Regiment, but the US Army as a whole. During his 35 years of service, Colonel Hill significantly impacted the character, doctrine and long-term combat support focus of the Military Police.

   His journey in life began on 24 May 1923 in Visalia, California, and ended on 24 April 2000 at his home in Sunnyvale, California.

   Glen Hill was born in Visalia, California; the seventh child of Robert Lee Hill, then Sheriff of Tulare County, and Lucy Russell Hill. Glen graduated 13 June 1941, from Visalia Union High School, he then continued on a football scholarship to Washington State University at Pullman. There he majored in Police Science and Administration until 22 March 1942, when he was inducted into the United States Army (after being declined enlistment into the Marine Corps due to colorblindness). He rose to the rank of Sgt. by February 1944, and was commissioned an Infantry 2Lt. on 3 May 1944. He served as an Infantry Platoon Leader in K Company, 60th Regimental Combat Team, 9th Infantry Division.

   He was later assigned to the 382nd MP Battalion 66th Infantry Division and finally separated as a 1st Lt. at Camp Beale, California on 4 June 1946.

  His decorations at that time included the American Campaign Medal, the European African Middle Eastern Service Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge (CIB), and the Army of Occupation Medal.

   Interestingly, though awarded the CIB, he chose not to wear it. In December 1972 LTG Joseph Stillwell asked, then COL Hill, if he had not been awarded the CIB, and why it wasn’t on his uniform. COL. Hill’s reason was, that for many soldiers, this was the only award for combat duty that they would receive, posthumously, and this award should be reserved for them. He held the CIB in great esteem. He felt the same way about the Purple Heart. Though having qualified for the Purple Heart on at least one occasion, COL Hill declined to be submitted for the award. Again there were soldiers that had far greater wounds than he had ever suffered, and this one medal might be all the recognition they would have to show for their pain, agony and sacrifice.

   Glen Hill returned to Washington State University in the summer of 1946. While there he became a member of and president of the local chapter of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, a national honor society. He earned his BS in Police Science on 2 February 1948.

   In 1947, Glen fell in love with the lovely Gloria Donna Hawkes, and on 6 February 1948 they were married in a small ceremony in Olympia, Washington. Together they had three sons and one (deceased) daughter.

   Glen Hill briefly worked as a police officer in Longview, Washington while awaiting return to active duty in the Army. On 21 October 1948 he returned to active military duty and served as a Counter Intelligence Officer until January 1950, when he attended the Military Police (MP) Officer’s Basic Course at Ft. Gordon, Georgia. From June 1950 to September 1951 he served in the 503rd MP Bn. at Ft. Bragg NC. From October 1951 to October 1954 he served in the 540th MP Bn., the 43rd MP Company, and as Company Commander of Headquarters Co. 1st Bn. 172nd Infantry in Germany.

   Upon his return from Europe he served as an ROTC Instructor at Michigan State University in East Lansing MI, attended the MP Officer’s Advanced Course in September 1957, and then was selected to become an Instructor at the MP School from May 1958 till May 1959. From June 1959 to December 1960 he served as the Military Police Advisor to the Provost Marshal General of the Royal Thai Army, in Bangkok, Thailand. He was responsible for advising the Royal Thai Army on all phases of general law enforcement and security. He was also instrumental in the founding of the Royal Thai Army Military Police Academy. His dealings with the Royal Thai Military, played a role in Thailand’s later support for U.S. involvement in Southwest Asia.

   In January 1961 he reported to Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas for the Command & General Staff Course (C&GSC). While waiting for the course to begin, it was discovered that he had grown up on a farm in the San Joaquin valley of California. He was subsequently put in charge of the US Military Disciplinary Barracks farm for four months, until he became the Assistant Provost Marshal for the Post . After completing the C&GSC, he was selected for graduate school and sent to the University of California at Berkley where he earned a Masters Degree in Criminology in 1963. His Master’s thesis was on the development and use of Psychological Testing Tools for Improving the Selection and Quality of Military Police.

   In 1963, at the request of the U.S. State Department, then LTC Hill was selected for assignment as Consular Advisor to the Brazilian military police. Serving during a period of increased unrest in the country, LTC Hill was instrumental in laying the foundations for a military police force dedicated to, and serving, democratic principles. For his meritorious service to the Brazilian Military Police, he was awarded the Merito'e Dedicacao Medal.

  Upon returning from Brazil in 1965 LTC Hill assumed command of the 720th MP Battalion. U.S.involvement in Vietnam was dramatically growing during this period. The need for MP’s to conduct local security and military convoy escort duties was recognized. The 720th MP Battalion, under his command, was selected as one of the very first MP Battalions to be deployed in its entirety to the Republic of Vietnam in 1966. Within months of deployment the battalion was involved in action that resulted in the unit being awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation. Towards the end of his tour, LTC Hill became the Operations Officer during the ‘stand-up’ of the 18th MP Brigade. Soon thereafter he was promoted to Colonel.

   In the period 1967 - 1969 COL Hill returned to the United States and served in a series of nominative positions. As the Assistant Commandant of the US Army Military Police School, COL Hill assessed and restructured the curriculum to address the changing needs of the military and the country. Asked to join the Office of the Provost Marshal General, COL Hill served as key operational and policy advisor during a national period of political and civil unrest, which resulted in many new training programs and procedures in civil law enforcement agencies across the country.

   In 1968, following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the civil unrest that developed across the United States, the Chief of Staff, Army, General Harold K. Johnson, organized a new Directorate for Civil Disturbance Planning and Operations (DCDPO) within the umbrella of his office. Their mission was to publish plans and manage operational training and riot control activities for various civilian police departments, National Guard forces, reserve units and selected active duty military forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines). Because of his personal knowledge and training background in civil disturbance affairs, Glen Hill was selected to serve as the Chief of the Plans Division within the DCDPO.

   COL Hill graduated from the U.S. Army War College in 1970. Later that year, he volunteered for a 2nd tour in Vietnam and was selected to assume command of the 16th MP Group. During his command, the 16th Group grew to a combat strength of 5,000 troops and assumed responsibility for combat police support, area law enforcement and physical security for northern and central Vietnam. COL Hill, once again, received personal recognition for his contribution to the U.S. Army’s effort.

   Upon his return from his third combat tour in 1971, COL Hill became the Provost Marshal, Sixth United States Army. In this position COL Hill was responsible for policy development, inspection and emergency/crisis planning for the entire 6th Army. After a little over a year in this position, COL Hill was asked to accept the position of Deputy, Provost Marshal General, U.S. Army.

   From 1973 –1974, COL Hill was directly responsible developing, coordinating, implementing and directing all law enforcement, confinement and physical security operations of the U.S. Army. COL Hill was recognized for his personal contribution to the shaping and transformation of the MP Corps into what we know it to be today… Ever Vigilant, dedicated to Duty, Justice and Honor.

   COL Hill’s final active duty assignment was as Professor of Military Science at San Jose State University until retiring from active duty in 1978. COL Hill’s nearly four decades of service, commencing as a Private in 1943, until his retirement were passionately dedicated to the US Army and his beloved Military Police Corps. He was a soldier, a military policeman, a scholar, and humanitarian, and a leader who favorably influenced Seniors and Subordinates at all levels.

   COL Hill was a lover of music, a voracious reader, and a great debater. He had been married for 52 years to Gloria. He fathered three sons: COL Michael A. Hill (USAR, ret.), LTC Jeffrey S. Hill (USA, ret.), and Mr. Kevin D. Hill. He is also survived by eight grandchildren and one great grandchild.

   Lest we not forget, and above all, COL Hill was a devout Christian, and had a personal relationship with his Lord Jesus Christ.. His character was a reflection of his lifetime of spiritual growth. As a man of great faith, courage, and integrity, he sought, knew, loved, and recognized God’s truth.Internment for Glen took place at The Smith Hill Mountain Cemetery on Saturday 29 April 2000. Most of Glen’s deceased family members—including his Mother and Father—are buried there. On 23 September 2003 COL Hill was honored with his induction into the Military Police Corps Regimental Hall of Fame.

   In 2003 the Hill family donated the Battalion Colors that took the 720th to Vietnam to the Battalion Reunion Association. The colors were first displayed proudly at the September 2003 Reunion held at St. Robert, Missouri gateway to Fort Leonard Wood home of the United States Army Military Police Corps Regiment.