Kansas man killed in Germany in World War II identified

The identity of a Kansas man killed in Germany during World War II has been determined by a U.S. Department of Defense agency.

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) confirmed on Tuesday that Army Pvt. John L. Hill, of Kansas City, Kansas, was accounted for on April 10, 2020.

Hill, who was 19 years old at the time of his death, was a member of Company D, 393rd Infantry Regiment, 99th Infantry Division. He was among the thousands of Allied forces who pushed into Germany in late 1944 during the Battle of the Bulge, a major German offensive in the Ardennes region of Belgium.

Hill’s unit was engaged in intense fighting near Kesternich, Germany, on Dec. 15, 1944, when he was killed in action. His remains were recovered in May 1949 and, following a thorough review of his evidence and consultation with the family, he was identified through the use of advanced forensic technology, the DPAA said in a statement.

The DPAA is responsible for accounting for missing U.S. personnel in foreign countries, and for providing assistance to families of those lost in battle or in the line of duty. The agency works to identify and repatriate the remains of service members who have been unaccounted for since World War II.

Hill’s name is recorded on the Tablets of the Missing at the Netherlands American Cemetery, a memorial to honor those who had no known grave. His interment date and location are pending.

The DPAA noted that, with the identification of Hill, 7,908 Americans still remain unaccounted for from World War II. Family members seeking more information about the agency’s mission can contact the DPAA at 1-800-892-2490 or via the website at www.dpaa.mil.

The U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) has identified the remains of Army Pvt. John L. Hill of Kansas City, Kansas, who was killed in action in Germany during World War II.

Hill, 19 years old at the time of his death, was a member of Company D, 393rd Infantry Regiment, 99th Infantry Division, and was among the Allied forces engaged in intense fighting near Kesternich, Germany, on Dec. 15, 1944. His remains were recovered in May 1949 and, after a comprehensive review of evidence and consultation with the family, were identified through the use of advanced forensic technology.

The DPAA is responsible for finding and repatriating the remains of service members who have been unaccounted for since World War II, and Hill’s name is now inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing at the Netherlands American Cemetery. The DPAA noted that, with Hill’s identification, 7,908 Americans still remain unaccounted for from World War II, and family members seeking more information can contact the agency at 1-800-892-2490 or via the website at www.dpaa.mil. Hill’s interment date and location are pending.