Feb 2017: Jesse Hill Sr.,
US Army, 1943-1946

Jesse Hill, Sr. was born on August 4, 1923 in Covington, Tennessee, to Sloan and Mattie Tipton Hill. He is the middle child of three children. He attended Tabernacle School. In 1938, he joined Salem M.B. Church in Mason, Tennessee, where he has served as a choir member, deacon, and trustee, and is still a member. He served in the United States Army from 1943 to 1946 as a construction machine operator, and he saw service in New Guinea and Luzon, Philippines. During his military career he was awarded the World War II Victory Ribbon, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal Ribbon with Two Bronze Service Stars, and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with Bronze Star.

After returning home from the service in 1946 he married the former Laura Mae Culbreath and to this union seven children were born. In 1956 he began working for Thornton’s Construction Company. He also farmed, which included raising cattle and hogs, and growing vegetables to feed his family. He loved to hunt and fish. In 1963 he joined the Christian Aid Male Chorus and has been a member of that organization for fifty three years. In 1971 he retired from his civilian job and from farming, but he continued to hunt, fish, and grow vegetables. At ninety three years old, he planted a vegetable garden this year. He would like to do more, but his health has prevented him from doing so. Jesse Hill, Sr. can still remember things from many years ago.

As of 2016, Jesse Hill, Sr. and Laura Mae have been married for seventy years. They live in Covington with their daughter, Maggie Jean. Their son Jesse Hill, Jr., was also a United States Army Veteran but sadly passed away on January 30, 2013. Jesse and Laura Mae are proud grandparents of twenty grandchildren, twenty five great grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild. He was nominated for Veteran of the Month by his good friend Feaster Williamson, Jr.