France honors WWII pilot with Iowa County connection
by BRATHJEN on AUGUST 14, 2013
By LARRY ROEHRKASSE
Special to NEWSpapers of Iowa County
On June 8, a memorial was dedicated in Coulonces, located in the Normandy region of France. The memorial was to honor 1st Lt. Dean John Hill Jr., who was killed when the P-51
A cross marks the grave of World War II pilot Dean Hill Jr. in Brittany American Cemetery and Memorial at St. James, France. He is the son of former Conroy resident Ruth Ann Frick Hill. He died June 19, 1944, near Coulonces, France, when his plane crashed while he was flying a fighter escort mission. SUBMITTED PHOTO
A cross marks the grave of World War II pilot Dean Hill Jr. in Brittany American Cemetery and Memorial at St. James, France. He is the son of former Conroy resident Ruth Ann Frick Hill. He died June 19, 1944, near Coulonces, France, when his plane crashed while he was flying a fighter escort mission. SUBMITTED PHOTO
Mustang he was piloting crashed in a small woods near Coulonces in the early morning of June 19, 1944. Dean Hill Jr., like many young men his age, paid the ultimate sacrifice to help preserve and maintain the freedoms we all enjoy today.
Dean Hill Jr. was born and raised in Los Angeles, Calif., the son of Ruth Anne Frick Hill and Dean Hill Sr. Our Grand Aunt Ruth Anne was born and raised in Conroy, the daughter of John David and Elizabeth Anne Frick. Her siblings were David R., Howard L. and Alma C. Frick. She graduated from high school and went on to the University of Chicago, where she earned her degree and started her professional career. She moved west with her job to Hawaii in the early 1900’s where she met and married Dean Hill Sr. Shortly after their marriage they moved to California.
Dean Hill Jr. grew up and was best buddies with a man named Robert Rubel. They went to junior and senior high school together, graduated and went on to UCLA. They both enlisted in the Army Air Corps on Oct. 1, 1943, and were stationed north of London, England. Dean Hill was killed on June 19, 1944, while flying a fighter escort mission and his best friend was killed in a dogfight flying a P-38 two weeks later on July 6, 1944. They both were reported missing in action and it took nearly four years to locate, positively identify the bodies and then formally notify their families.
Dean Hill Sr., passed away in 1946, not knowing the final resting place of his dear son – Grand Aunt Ruth had now lost two of the most important men in her life. Both families were given the option of having their sons brought back to the United States for burial or of being buried in a military cemetery in France. Our Grand Aunt Ruth and Robert Rubel’s mother requested that their sons be buried in France, where they gave their lives, and that their sons be placed next to one another. Their final side-by-side resting place is in Brittany American Cemetery and Memorial at St. James, France.
In the summer of 2012 an e-mail arrived at the Iowa County Historical Society, requesting any information about the family of Dean John Hill Jr. The inquiry came from the Lacey Davis Foundation, stating that ANSA, Association Normande du Souvenir Aérein 39-45, was erecting memorials honoring downed American pilots and crewman who died between 1939 and 1945. A memorial honoring Dean Hill would be dedicated in June 2013, and they would like any family relatives to attend if possible. As a result, Larry and Karol Roehrkasse, John and Nancy Roehrkasse and Brian Roehrkasse were able to attend.
On June 7, 2013, a ceremony was held at Brittany-American Cemetery and Memorial to honor 1st Lt. Dean John Hill Jr. Larry was asked to raise the flag, a 21-gun salute was performed, and taps were played. Following the ceremony we visited the gravesites of both Dean Hill Jr. and Robert Rubel. Jeffrey Aarnio, superintendent of Brittany American Cemetery rubbed sand from Omaha Beach on each marker to highlight the names and ranks of the two fallen men. Representatives from Coulonces, Lacey Davis Foundation, ANSA and Association Les fleurs de la mémoire were in attendance.
It was here that we met the first of two very special people. Jean Claude Clouet was nearly 4 years old when he witnessed the crash and death of Robert Rubel as a result of a dogfight with a German Messerschmitt over his parent’s farm home near where the cemetery is located today. As he witnessed Rubel’s P-38 explode in the air he also witnessed a pilot from another P-38 that had been hit parachute from his plane. While his mother attempted to get him out of harms way, he said, “Mother, look, there is a daisy in the sky.” The daisy of course was the parachute and the episode led to a short story titled “Daisy in the Sky” authored by the son of the surviving pilot.
Following the ceremony here we visited the site of the Battle of Mortain on our way to the crash site near Coulonces. The 30th infantry division had held this high ground for 8
Flags from different nations fly over a memorial honoring pilots killed near Coulonces, France, during World War II. SUBMITTED PHOTO
Flags from different nations fly over a memorial honoring pilots killed near Coulonces, France, during World War II. SUBMITTED PHOTO
days from Aug. 7 to Aug. 12, which gave Allied forces the time they needed to repel an offensive by an elite German SS force and defeat them in one of the strategic battles of the breakout period following the landing at Normandy. The sacrifices made here in some way helped save the breakout and helped us appreciate the significance of the crash site we were about to visit.
We stopped and had lunch before driving on to the crash site located in a small woods just south of Coulonces. A small area of the woods had been cleared, an American flag hung from a flagpole that had been erected and an American oak tree had been planted to commemorate our brave pilot. It was here that we met that second special person. His name is Maurice Milicent and he was 7 years old when he witnessed the crash of Dean Hill’s plane in the woods near his home. In a period of just hours we had met the two men who almost 70 years earlier had witnessed the deaths of two brave friends.
We then proceeded into the town of Coulonces and were welcomed by the mayor at the town hall, where pictures were taken and we were shown the parade grounds where in the distance we saw the memorial covered with an airman’s parachute. Today had been really special and emotional and our thoughts were with Grand Aunt Ruth and knowing she would have so enjoyed each event. Saturday would prove to be an even grander day, one that we all will never forget
We arrived at Coulonces late in the morning on Saturday, June 8, and walked around the charming French village with its striking cathedral, clean homes and yards and quiet demeanor. We discussed what it must have been like for these villagers as the battle for their country was going on around them some 70 years ago. It’s clear the people of Normandy appreciate the sacrifices made by the Allied forces to help keep their country free of Nazi tyranny. We had the opportunity to attend their own ceremony honoring their own men and women who gave their lives in the cause of freedom – they were thankful we attended.
We were about to experience an outflow of gratitude by these people that is almost impossible to capture – as they say, you had to be there. They gathered notables from their community and surrounding areas to a wonderful catered luncheon. After lunch, we gathered outside where a bagpipe band was waiting to lead a parade through their village to the memorial site.
To help explain the entirety of the dedication, in 1944 just after the landing at Normandy, there were two plane crashes near Coulonces. One was that of the P-51 Mustang piloted by Dean John Hill Jr. and the other was a British Lancaster bomber in which seven airmen perished, who were from the countries of Canada, Great Britain and Australia. Military attaches from each of those countries as well as France gave celebratory speeches during the dedication honoring these brave men.
The dedication began with a parade of flag bearers representing some 30 French cities and regions and the countries mentioned above. The mayors of Coulonces and Vire gave speeches along with Joseph Michel, noted town author, all thanking the brave men who perished for their sacrifice. The flags of France, Great Britain, Canada, Australia and the United States were then raised and hung on flagpoles just behind the memorial. School children marched in each holding a white rose, which they placed at the memorial, along with other organizations who also placed flowers. The national a anthem of each country was sung by Arlette Dugué, president of the Association Les fleurs de la mémoire, the organization responsible for all flowers at these memorial dedications.
Then, Larry, Karol, John, Nancy and Brian were called to the memorial to unveil the beautiful black granite stone memorial, which was covered with a white parachute. Representations of both the P-51 Mustang and the Lancaster bomber had been etched in the granite stone below which each name of the serviceman who perished was listed. It was a beautiful memorial and in remembrance of the men’s sacrifice a moment of silence was held to honor them.
Larry Roehrkasse gave a speech thanking the town of Coulonces, the organizations who made this dedication happen and all those attending for honoring our fallen family hero, 1st Lt. Dean John Hill Jr. A man with a bagpipe now approached the memorial and began playing Amazing Grace.
We then proceeded to thank and shake hands with the school children, community representatives, each flag bearer, who were mostly elderly men decorated with military medals, and the military attaches. The mayor of Coulonces and the bagpipe band led a final a procession back to the town center for yet another ceremony. We were treated to a champagne reception during which a young girl named Juliette presented a special coin to our family. Her father, Bruno, is part owner of the woods where Dean Hill crashed, and while preparing the area there for the flag pole and the American oak tree, Juliette found a King George sixpence coin dated 1940. It most likely belonged to Dean Hill and was lost in the woods when he crashed. This 7-year-old girl wanted to present the coin as a special remembrance of Dean’s sacrifice. The entire community and those in attendance were so gracious and for our attendance and we enjoyed the social time talking with as many of the people as possible.
But, we were not done for the day, there was to be one last celebration at the crash site in the woods. The final tribute to the bravery and sacrifice of our cousin also brought to mind thoughts of all the brave men who gave their lives during WWII. As the French people know, when the allies liberated Normandy “the heartbeat of France began to beat again.” A prayer was said here and it accentuated the gratitude we felt in our hearts for the efforts these special people made to make the dedication a reality. The emotion of the time we spent here highlighted by the outpouring of appreciation could be summed up in a single statement that these people had engraved on the memorial, “We will never forget.” For that thought we thank everyone and pray for God to bless each one of them.
Tagged as: Dean Hill Jr., Robert Rubel
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NEXT POST: LETTER TO THE EDITOR – Aug. 14, 2013
by BRATHJEN on AUGUST 14, 2013
By LARRY ROEHRKASSE
Special to NEWSpapers of Iowa County
On June 8, a memorial was dedicated in Coulonces, located in the Normandy region of France. The memorial was to honor 1st Lt. Dean John Hill Jr., who was killed when the P-51
A cross marks the grave of World War II pilot Dean Hill Jr. in Brittany American Cemetery and Memorial at St. James, France. He is the son of former Conroy resident Ruth Ann Frick Hill. He died June 19, 1944, near Coulonces, France, when his plane crashed while he was flying a fighter escort mission. SUBMITTED PHOTO
A cross marks the grave of World War II pilot Dean Hill Jr. in Brittany American Cemetery and Memorial at St. James, France. He is the son of former Conroy resident Ruth Ann Frick Hill. He died June 19, 1944, near Coulonces, France, when his plane crashed while he was flying a fighter escort mission. SUBMITTED PHOTO
Mustang he was piloting crashed in a small woods near Coulonces in the early morning of June 19, 1944. Dean Hill Jr., like many young men his age, paid the ultimate sacrifice to help preserve and maintain the freedoms we all enjoy today.
Dean Hill Jr. was born and raised in Los Angeles, Calif., the son of Ruth Anne Frick Hill and Dean Hill Sr. Our Grand Aunt Ruth Anne was born and raised in Conroy, the daughter of John David and Elizabeth Anne Frick. Her siblings were David R., Howard L. and Alma C. Frick. She graduated from high school and went on to the University of Chicago, where she earned her degree and started her professional career. She moved west with her job to Hawaii in the early 1900’s where she met and married Dean Hill Sr. Shortly after their marriage they moved to California.
Dean Hill Jr. grew up and was best buddies with a man named Robert Rubel. They went to junior and senior high school together, graduated and went on to UCLA. They both enlisted in the Army Air Corps on Oct. 1, 1943, and were stationed north of London, England. Dean Hill was killed on June 19, 1944, while flying a fighter escort mission and his best friend was killed in a dogfight flying a P-38 two weeks later on July 6, 1944. They both were reported missing in action and it took nearly four years to locate, positively identify the bodies and then formally notify their families.
Dean Hill Sr., passed away in 1946, not knowing the final resting place of his dear son – Grand Aunt Ruth had now lost two of the most important men in her life. Both families were given the option of having their sons brought back to the United States for burial or of being buried in a military cemetery in France. Our Grand Aunt Ruth and Robert Rubel’s mother requested that their sons be buried in France, where they gave their lives, and that their sons be placed next to one another. Their final side-by-side resting place is in Brittany American Cemetery and Memorial at St. James, France.
In the summer of 2012 an e-mail arrived at the Iowa County Historical Society, requesting any information about the family of Dean John Hill Jr. The inquiry came from the Lacey Davis Foundation, stating that ANSA, Association Normande du Souvenir Aérein 39-45, was erecting memorials honoring downed American pilots and crewman who died between 1939 and 1945. A memorial honoring Dean Hill would be dedicated in June 2013, and they would like any family relatives to attend if possible. As a result, Larry and Karol Roehrkasse, John and Nancy Roehrkasse and Brian Roehrkasse were able to attend.
On June 7, 2013, a ceremony was held at Brittany-American Cemetery and Memorial to honor 1st Lt. Dean John Hill Jr. Larry was asked to raise the flag, a 21-gun salute was performed, and taps were played. Following the ceremony we visited the gravesites of both Dean Hill Jr. and Robert Rubel. Jeffrey Aarnio, superintendent of Brittany American Cemetery rubbed sand from Omaha Beach on each marker to highlight the names and ranks of the two fallen men. Representatives from Coulonces, Lacey Davis Foundation, ANSA and Association Les fleurs de la mémoire were in attendance.
It was here that we met the first of two very special people. Jean Claude Clouet was nearly 4 years old when he witnessed the crash and death of Robert Rubel as a result of a dogfight with a German Messerschmitt over his parent’s farm home near where the cemetery is located today. As he witnessed Rubel’s P-38 explode in the air he also witnessed a pilot from another P-38 that had been hit parachute from his plane. While his mother attempted to get him out of harms way, he said, “Mother, look, there is a daisy in the sky.” The daisy of course was the parachute and the episode led to a short story titled “Daisy in the Sky” authored by the son of the surviving pilot.
Following the ceremony here we visited the site of the Battle of Mortain on our way to the crash site near Coulonces. The 30th infantry division had held this high ground for 8
Flags from different nations fly over a memorial honoring pilots killed near Coulonces, France, during World War II. SUBMITTED PHOTO
Flags from different nations fly over a memorial honoring pilots killed near Coulonces, France, during World War II. SUBMITTED PHOTO
days from Aug. 7 to Aug. 12, which gave Allied forces the time they needed to repel an offensive by an elite German SS force and defeat them in one of the strategic battles of the breakout period following the landing at Normandy. The sacrifices made here in some way helped save the breakout and helped us appreciate the significance of the crash site we were about to visit.
We stopped and had lunch before driving on to the crash site located in a small woods just south of Coulonces. A small area of the woods had been cleared, an American flag hung from a flagpole that had been erected and an American oak tree had been planted to commemorate our brave pilot. It was here that we met that second special person. His name is Maurice Milicent and he was 7 years old when he witnessed the crash of Dean Hill’s plane in the woods near his home. In a period of just hours we had met the two men who almost 70 years earlier had witnessed the deaths of two brave friends.
We then proceeded into the town of Coulonces and were welcomed by the mayor at the town hall, where pictures were taken and we were shown the parade grounds where in the distance we saw the memorial covered with an airman’s parachute. Today had been really special and emotional and our thoughts were with Grand Aunt Ruth and knowing she would have so enjoyed each event. Saturday would prove to be an even grander day, one that we all will never forget
We arrived at Coulonces late in the morning on Saturday, June 8, and walked around the charming French village with its striking cathedral, clean homes and yards and quiet demeanor. We discussed what it must have been like for these villagers as the battle for their country was going on around them some 70 years ago. It’s clear the people of Normandy appreciate the sacrifices made by the Allied forces to help keep their country free of Nazi tyranny. We had the opportunity to attend their own ceremony honoring their own men and women who gave their lives in the cause of freedom – they were thankful we attended.
We were about to experience an outflow of gratitude by these people that is almost impossible to capture – as they say, you had to be there. They gathered notables from their community and surrounding areas to a wonderful catered luncheon. After lunch, we gathered outside where a bagpipe band was waiting to lead a parade through their village to the memorial site.
To help explain the entirety of the dedication, in 1944 just after the landing at Normandy, there were two plane crashes near Coulonces. One was that of the P-51 Mustang piloted by Dean John Hill Jr. and the other was a British Lancaster bomber in which seven airmen perished, who were from the countries of Canada, Great Britain and Australia. Military attaches from each of those countries as well as France gave celebratory speeches during the dedication honoring these brave men.
The dedication began with a parade of flag bearers representing some 30 French cities and regions and the countries mentioned above. The mayors of Coulonces and Vire gave speeches along with Joseph Michel, noted town author, all thanking the brave men who perished for their sacrifice. The flags of France, Great Britain, Canada, Australia and the United States were then raised and hung on flagpoles just behind the memorial. School children marched in each holding a white rose, which they placed at the memorial, along with other organizations who also placed flowers. The national a anthem of each country was sung by Arlette Dugué, president of the Association Les fleurs de la mémoire, the organization responsible for all flowers at these memorial dedications.
Then, Larry, Karol, John, Nancy and Brian were called to the memorial to unveil the beautiful black granite stone memorial, which was covered with a white parachute. Representations of both the P-51 Mustang and the Lancaster bomber had been etched in the granite stone below which each name of the serviceman who perished was listed. It was a beautiful memorial and in remembrance of the men’s sacrifice a moment of silence was held to honor them.
Larry Roehrkasse gave a speech thanking the town of Coulonces, the organizations who made this dedication happen and all those attending for honoring our fallen family hero, 1st Lt. Dean John Hill Jr. A man with a bagpipe now approached the memorial and began playing Amazing Grace.
We then proceeded to thank and shake hands with the school children, community representatives, each flag bearer, who were mostly elderly men decorated with military medals, and the military attaches. The mayor of Coulonces and the bagpipe band led a final a procession back to the town center for yet another ceremony. We were treated to a champagne reception during which a young girl named Juliette presented a special coin to our family. Her father, Bruno, is part owner of the woods where Dean Hill crashed, and while preparing the area there for the flag pole and the American oak tree, Juliette found a King George sixpence coin dated 1940. It most likely belonged to Dean Hill and was lost in the woods when he crashed. This 7-year-old girl wanted to present the coin as a special remembrance of Dean’s sacrifice. The entire community and those in attendance were so gracious and for our attendance and we enjoyed the social time talking with as many of the people as possible.
But, we were not done for the day, there was to be one last celebration at the crash site in the woods. The final tribute to the bravery and sacrifice of our cousin also brought to mind thoughts of all the brave men who gave their lives during WWII. As the French people know, when the allies liberated Normandy “the heartbeat of France began to beat again.” A prayer was said here and it accentuated the gratitude we felt in our hearts for the efforts these special people made to make the dedication a reality. The emotion of the time we spent here highlighted by the outpouring of appreciation could be summed up in a single statement that these people had engraved on the memorial, “We will never forget.” For that thought we thank everyone and pray for God to bless each one of them.
Tagged as: Dean Hill Jr., Robert Rubel
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NEXT POST: LETTER TO THE EDITOR – Aug. 14, 2013
France honors WWII pilot with Iowa County connection
by BRATHJEN on AUGUST 14, 2013
By LARRY ROEHRKASSE
Special to NEWSpapers of Iowa County
On June 8, a memorial was dedicated in Coulonces, located in the Normandy region of France. The memorial was to honor 1st Lt. Dean John Hill Jr., who was killed when the P-51
A cross marks the grave of World War II pilot Dean Hill Jr. in Brittany American Cemetery and Memorial at St. James, France. He is the son of former Conroy resident Ruth Ann Frick Hill. He died June 19, 1944, near Coulonces, France, when his plane crashed while he was flying a fighter escort mission. SUBMITTED PHOTO
A cross marks the grave of World War II pilot Dean Hill Jr. in Brittany American Cemetery and Memorial at St. James, France. He is the son of former Conroy resident Ruth Ann Frick Hill. He died June 19, 1944, near Coulonces, France, when his plane crashed while he was flying a fighter escort mission. SUBMITTED PHOTO
Mustang he was piloting crashed in a small woods near Coulonces in the early morning of June 19, 1944. Dean Hill Jr., like many young men his age, paid the ultimate sacrifice to help preserve and maintain the freedoms we all enjoy today.
Dean Hill Jr. was born and raised in Los Angeles, Calif., the son of Ruth Anne Frick Hill and Dean Hill Sr. Our Grand Aunt Ruth Anne was born and raised in Conroy, the daughter of John David and Elizabeth Anne Frick. Her siblings were David R., Howard L. and Alma C. Frick. She graduated from high school and went on to the University of Chicago, where she earned her degree and started her professional career. She moved west with her job to Hawaii in the early 1900’s where she met and married Dean Hill Sr. Shortly after their marriage they moved to California.
Dean Hill Jr. grew up and was best buddies with a man named Robert Rubel. They went to junior and senior high school together, graduated and went on to UCLA. They both enlisted in the Army Air Corps on Oct. 1, 1943, and were stationed north of London, England. Dean Hill was killed on June 19, 1944, while flying a fighter escort mission and his best friend was killed in a dogfight flying a P-38 two weeks later on July 6, 1944. They both were reported missing in action and it took nearly four years to locate, positively identify the bodies and then formally notify their families.
Dean Hill Sr., passed away in 1946, not knowing the final resting place of his dear son – Grand Aunt Ruth had now lost two of the most important men in her life. Both families were given the option of having their sons brought back to the United States for burial or of being buried in a military cemetery in France. Our Grand Aunt Ruth and Robert Rubel’s mother requested that their sons be buried in France, where they gave their lives, and that their sons be placed next to one another. Their final side-by-side resting place is in Brittany American Cemetery and Memorial at St. James, France.
In the summer of 2012 an e-mail arrived at the Iowa County Historical Society, requesting any information about the family of Dean John Hill Jr. The inquiry came from the Lacey Davis Foundation, stating that ANSA, Association Normande du Souvenir Aérein 39-45, was erecting memorials honoring downed American pilots and crewman who died between 1939 and 1945. A memorial honoring Dean Hill would be dedicated in June 2013, and they would like any family relatives to attend if possible. As a result, Larry and Karol Roehrkasse, John and Nancy Roehrkasse and Brian Roehrkasse were able to attend.
On June 7, 2013, a ceremony was held at Brittany-American Cemetery and Memorial to honor 1st Lt. Dean John Hill Jr. Larry was asked to raise the flag, a 21-gun salute was performed, and taps were played. Following the ceremony we visited the gravesites of both Dean Hill Jr. and Robert Rubel. Jeffrey Aarnio, superintendent of Brittany American Cemetery rubbed sand from Omaha Beach on each marker to highlight the names and ranks of the two fallen men. Representatives from Coulonces, Lacey Davis Foundation, ANSA and Association Les fleurs de la mémoire were in attendance.
It was here that we met the first of two very special people. Jean Claude Clouet was nearly 4 years old when he witnessed the crash and death of Robert Rubel as a result of a dogfight with a German Messerschmitt over his parent’s farm home near where the cemetery is located today. As he witnessed Rubel’s P-38 explode in the air he also witnessed a pilot from another P-38 that had been hit parachute from his plane. While his mother attempted to get him out of harms way, he said, “Mother, look, there is a daisy in the sky.” The daisy of course was the parachute and the episode led to a short story titled “Daisy in the Sky” authored by the son of the surviving pilot.
Following the ceremony here we visited the site of the Battle of Mortain on our way to the crash site near Coulonces. The 30th infantry division had held this high ground for 8
Flags from different nations fly over a memorial honoring pilots killed near Coulonces, France, during World War II. SUBMITTED PHOTO
Flags from different nations fly over a memorial honoring pilots killed near Coulonces, France, during World War II. SUBMITTED PHOTO
days from Aug. 7 to Aug. 12, which gave Allied forces the time they needed to repel an offensive by an elite German SS force and defeat them in one of the strategic battles of the breakout period following the landing at Normandy. The sacrifices made here in some way helped save the breakout and helped us appreciate the significance of the crash site we were about to visit.
We stopped and had lunch before driving on to the crash site located in a small woods just south of Coulonces. A small area of the woods had been cleared, an American flag hung from a flagpole that had been erected and an American oak tree had been planted to commemorate our brave pilot. It was here that we met that second special person. His name is Maurice Milicent and he was 7 years old when he witnessed the crash of Dean Hill’s plane in the woods near his home. In a period of just hours we had met the two men who almost 70 years earlier had witnessed the deaths of two brave friends.
We then proceeded into the town of Coulonces and were welcomed by the mayor at the town hall, where pictures were taken and we were shown the parade grounds where in the distance we saw the memorial covered with an airman’s parachute. Today had been really special and emotional and our thoughts were with Grand Aunt Ruth and knowing she would have so enjoyed each event. Saturday would prove to be an even grander day, one that we all will never forget
We arrived at Coulonces late in the morning on Saturday, June 8, and walked around the charming French village with its striking cathedral, clean homes and yards and quiet demeanor. We discussed what it must have been like for these villagers as the battle for their country was going on around them some 70 years ago. It’s clear the people of Normandy appreciate the sacrifices made by the Allied forces to help keep their country free of Nazi tyranny. We had the opportunity to attend their own ceremony honoring their own men and women who gave their lives in the cause of freedom – they were thankful we attended.
We were about to experience an outflow of gratitude by these people that is almost impossible to capture – as they say, you had to be there. They gathered notables from their community and surrounding areas to a wonderful catered luncheon. After lunch, we gathered outside where a bagpipe band was waiting to lead a parade through their village to the memorial site.
To help explain the entirety of the dedication, in 1944 just after the landing at Normandy, there were two plane crashes near Coulonces. One was that of the P-51 Mustang piloted by Dean John Hill Jr. and the other was a British Lancaster bomber in which seven airmen perished, who were from the countries of Canada, Great Britain and Australia. Military attaches from each of those countries as well as France gave celebratory speeches during the dedication honoring these brave men.
The dedication began with a parade of flag bearers representing some 30 French cities and regions and the countries mentioned above. The mayors of Coulonces and Vire gave speeches along with Joseph Michel, noted town author, all thanking the brave men who perished for their sacrifice. The flags of France, Great Britain, Canada, Australia and the United States were then raised and hung on flagpoles just behind the memorial. School children marched in each holding a white rose, which they placed at the memorial, along with other organizations who also placed flowers. The national a anthem of each country was sung by Arlette Dugué, president of the Association Les fleurs de la mémoire, the organization responsible for all flowers at these memorial dedications.
Then, Larry, Karol, John, Nancy and Brian were called to the memorial to unveil the beautiful black granite stone memorial, which was covered with a white parachute. Representations of both the P-51 Mustang and the Lancaster bomber had been etched in the granite stone below which each name of the serviceman who perished was listed. It was a beautiful memorial and in remembrance of the men’s sacrifice a moment of silence was held to honor them.
Larry Roehrkasse gave a speech thanking the town of Coulonces, the organizations who made this dedication happen and all those attending for honoring our fallen family hero, 1st Lt. Dean John Hill Jr. A man with a bagpipe now approached the memorial and began playing Amazing Grace.
We then proceeded to thank and shake hands with the school children, community representatives, each flag bearer, who were mostly elderly men decorated with military medals, and the military attaches. The mayor of Coulonces and the bagpipe band led a final a procession back to the town center for yet another ceremony. We were treated to a champagne reception during which a young girl named Juliette presented a special coin to our family. Her father, Bruno, is part owner of the woods where Dean Hill crashed, and while preparing the area there for the flag pole and the American oak tree, Juliette found a King George sixpence coin dated 1940. It most likely belonged to Dean Hill and was lost in the woods when he crashed. This 7-year-old girl wanted to present the coin as a special remembrance of Dean’s sacrifice. The entire community and those in attendance were so gracious and for our attendance and we enjoyed the social time talking with as many of the people as possible.
But, we were not done for the day, there was to be one last celebration at the crash site in the woods. The final tribute to the bravery and sacrifice of our cousin also brought to mind thoughts of all the brave men who gave their lives during WWII. As the French people know, when the allies liberated Normandy “the heartbeat of France began to beat again.” A prayer was said here and it accentuated the gratitude we felt in our hearts for the efforts these special people made to make the dedication a reality. The emotion of the time we spent here highlighted by the outpouring of appreciation could be summed up in a single statement that these people had engraved on the memorial, “We will never forget.” For that thought we thank everyone and pray for God to bless each one of them.
Tagged as: Dean Hill Jr., Robert Rubel
PREVIOUS POST: Benton County at Iowa State Fair
NEXT POST: LETTER TO THE EDITOR – Aug. 14, 2013
by BRATHJEN on AUGUST 14, 2013
By LARRY ROEHRKASSE
Special to NEWSpapers of Iowa County
On June 8, a memorial was dedicated in Coulonces, located in the Normandy region of France. The memorial was to honor 1st Lt. Dean John Hill Jr., who was killed when the P-51
A cross marks the grave of World War II pilot Dean Hill Jr. in Brittany American Cemetery and Memorial at St. James, France. He is the son of former Conroy resident Ruth Ann Frick Hill. He died June 19, 1944, near Coulonces, France, when his plane crashed while he was flying a fighter escort mission. SUBMITTED PHOTO
A cross marks the grave of World War II pilot Dean Hill Jr. in Brittany American Cemetery and Memorial at St. James, France. He is the son of former Conroy resident Ruth Ann Frick Hill. He died June 19, 1944, near Coulonces, France, when his plane crashed while he was flying a fighter escort mission. SUBMITTED PHOTO
Mustang he was piloting crashed in a small woods near Coulonces in the early morning of June 19, 1944. Dean Hill Jr., like many young men his age, paid the ultimate sacrifice to help preserve and maintain the freedoms we all enjoy today.
Dean Hill Jr. was born and raised in Los Angeles, Calif., the son of Ruth Anne Frick Hill and Dean Hill Sr. Our Grand Aunt Ruth Anne was born and raised in Conroy, the daughter of John David and Elizabeth Anne Frick. Her siblings were David R., Howard L. and Alma C. Frick. She graduated from high school and went on to the University of Chicago, where she earned her degree and started her professional career. She moved west with her job to Hawaii in the early 1900’s where she met and married Dean Hill Sr. Shortly after their marriage they moved to California.
Dean Hill Jr. grew up and was best buddies with a man named Robert Rubel. They went to junior and senior high school together, graduated and went on to UCLA. They both enlisted in the Army Air Corps on Oct. 1, 1943, and were stationed north of London, England. Dean Hill was killed on June 19, 1944, while flying a fighter escort mission and his best friend was killed in a dogfight flying a P-38 two weeks later on July 6, 1944. They both were reported missing in action and it took nearly four years to locate, positively identify the bodies and then formally notify their families.
Dean Hill Sr., passed away in 1946, not knowing the final resting place of his dear son – Grand Aunt Ruth had now lost two of the most important men in her life. Both families were given the option of having their sons brought back to the United States for burial or of being buried in a military cemetery in France. Our Grand Aunt Ruth and Robert Rubel’s mother requested that their sons be buried in France, where they gave their lives, and that their sons be placed next to one another. Their final side-by-side resting place is in Brittany American Cemetery and Memorial at St. James, France.
In the summer of 2012 an e-mail arrived at the Iowa County Historical Society, requesting any information about the family of Dean John Hill Jr. The inquiry came from the Lacey Davis Foundation, stating that ANSA, Association Normande du Souvenir Aérein 39-45, was erecting memorials honoring downed American pilots and crewman who died between 1939 and 1945. A memorial honoring Dean Hill would be dedicated in June 2013, and they would like any family relatives to attend if possible. As a result, Larry and Karol Roehrkasse, John and Nancy Roehrkasse and Brian Roehrkasse were able to attend.
On June 7, 2013, a ceremony was held at Brittany-American Cemetery and Memorial to honor 1st Lt. Dean John Hill Jr. Larry was asked to raise the flag, a 21-gun salute was performed, and taps were played. Following the ceremony we visited the gravesites of both Dean Hill Jr. and Robert Rubel. Jeffrey Aarnio, superintendent of Brittany American Cemetery rubbed sand from Omaha Beach on each marker to highlight the names and ranks of the two fallen men. Representatives from Coulonces, Lacey Davis Foundation, ANSA and Association Les fleurs de la mémoire were in attendance.
It was here that we met the first of two very special people. Jean Claude Clouet was nearly 4 years old when he witnessed the crash and death of Robert Rubel as a result of a dogfight with a German Messerschmitt over his parent’s farm home near where the cemetery is located today. As he witnessed Rubel’s P-38 explode in the air he also witnessed a pilot from another P-38 that had been hit parachute from his plane. While his mother attempted to get him out of harms way, he said, “Mother, look, there is a daisy in the sky.” The daisy of course was the parachute and the episode led to a short story titled “Daisy in the Sky” authored by the son of the surviving pilot.
Following the ceremony here we visited the site of the Battle of Mortain on our way to the crash site near Coulonces. The 30th infantry division had held this high ground for 8
Flags from different nations fly over a memorial honoring pilots killed near Coulonces, France, during World War II. SUBMITTED PHOTO
Flags from different nations fly over a memorial honoring pilots killed near Coulonces, France, during World War II. SUBMITTED PHOTO
days from Aug. 7 to Aug. 12, which gave Allied forces the time they needed to repel an offensive by an elite German SS force and defeat them in one of the strategic battles of the breakout period following the landing at Normandy. The sacrifices made here in some way helped save the breakout and helped us appreciate the significance of the crash site we were about to visit.
We stopped and had lunch before driving on to the crash site located in a small woods just south of Coulonces. A small area of the woods had been cleared, an American flag hung from a flagpole that had been erected and an American oak tree had been planted to commemorate our brave pilot. It was here that we met that second special person. His name is Maurice Milicent and he was 7 years old when he witnessed the crash of Dean Hill’s plane in the woods near his home. In a period of just hours we had met the two men who almost 70 years earlier had witnessed the deaths of two brave friends.
We then proceeded into the town of Coulonces and were welcomed by the mayor at the town hall, where pictures were taken and we were shown the parade grounds where in the distance we saw the memorial covered with an airman’s parachute. Today had been really special and emotional and our thoughts were with Grand Aunt Ruth and knowing she would have so enjoyed each event. Saturday would prove to be an even grander day, one that we all will never forget
We arrived at Coulonces late in the morning on Saturday, June 8, and walked around the charming French village with its striking cathedral, clean homes and yards and quiet demeanor. We discussed what it must have been like for these villagers as the battle for their country was going on around them some 70 years ago. It’s clear the people of Normandy appreciate the sacrifices made by the Allied forces to help keep their country free of Nazi tyranny. We had the opportunity to attend their own ceremony honoring their own men and women who gave their lives in the cause of freedom – they were thankful we attended.
We were about to experience an outflow of gratitude by these people that is almost impossible to capture – as they say, you had to be there. They gathered notables from their community and surrounding areas to a wonderful catered luncheon. After lunch, we gathered outside where a bagpipe band was waiting to lead a parade through their village to the memorial site.
To help explain the entirety of the dedication, in 1944 just after the landing at Normandy, there were two plane crashes near Coulonces. One was that of the P-51 Mustang piloted by Dean John Hill Jr. and the other was a British Lancaster bomber in which seven airmen perished, who were from the countries of Canada, Great Britain and Australia. Military attaches from each of those countries as well as France gave celebratory speeches during the dedication honoring these brave men.
The dedication began with a parade of flag bearers representing some 30 French cities and regions and the countries mentioned above. The mayors of Coulonces and Vire gave speeches along with Joseph Michel, noted town author, all thanking the brave men who perished for their sacrifice. The flags of France, Great Britain, Canada, Australia and the United States were then raised and hung on flagpoles just behind the memorial. School children marched in each holding a white rose, which they placed at the memorial, along with other organizations who also placed flowers. The national a anthem of each country was sung by Arlette Dugué, president of the Association Les fleurs de la mémoire, the organization responsible for all flowers at these memorial dedications.
Then, Larry, Karol, John, Nancy and Brian were called to the memorial to unveil the beautiful black granite stone memorial, which was covered with a white parachute. Representations of both the P-51 Mustang and the Lancaster bomber had been etched in the granite stone below which each name of the serviceman who perished was listed. It was a beautiful memorial and in remembrance of the men’s sacrifice a moment of silence was held to honor them.
Larry Roehrkasse gave a speech thanking the town of Coulonces, the organizations who made this dedication happen and all those attending for honoring our fallen family hero, 1st Lt. Dean John Hill Jr. A man with a bagpipe now approached the memorial and began playing Amazing Grace.
We then proceeded to thank and shake hands with the school children, community representatives, each flag bearer, who were mostly elderly men decorated with military medals, and the military attaches. The mayor of Coulonces and the bagpipe band led a final a procession back to the town center for yet another ceremony. We were treated to a champagne reception during which a young girl named Juliette presented a special coin to our family. Her father, Bruno, is part owner of the woods where Dean Hill crashed, and while preparing the area there for the flag pole and the American oak tree, Juliette found a King George sixpence coin dated 1940. It most likely belonged to Dean Hill and was lost in the woods when he crashed. This 7-year-old girl wanted to present the coin as a special remembrance of Dean’s sacrifice. The entire community and those in attendance were so gracious and for our attendance and we enjoyed the social time talking with as many of the people as possible.
But, we were not done for the day, there was to be one last celebration at the crash site in the woods. The final tribute to the bravery and sacrifice of our cousin also brought to mind thoughts of all the brave men who gave their lives during WWII. As the French people know, when the allies liberated Normandy “the heartbeat of France began to beat again.” A prayer was said here and it accentuated the gratitude we felt in our hearts for the efforts these special people made to make the dedication a reality. The emotion of the time we spent here highlighted by the outpouring of appreciation could be summed up in a single statement that these people had engraved on the memorial, “We will never forget.” For that thought we thank everyone and pray for God to bless each one of them.
Tagged as: Dean Hill Jr., Robert Rubel
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