The Biography Of
Merrill Hill
By
Randolph Merrill Hill
2015
Merrill Hill, born 2 March 1932, 4:00AM, Garland, Box Elder, Ut at the home of his grandparent, Mr. & Mrs. Gee, he was the ninth child of Joseph Vernal (Vern) and Christina (Gee) Hill. The Gee home was located on the road the leads to the Garland Cemetery just across the current real road tracks. It was a white house. All of Merrill’s siblings were born there with the exception of Garold Hyrum Hill, the last child to be born to the family. Merrill received the ordinance of “Naming and Blessing of Children” by his uncle, Randolph Evan Gee, on 5 June 1932 in the Historic Garland tabernacle. At the time of his birth Vern was a farmer and Christina was housekeeper in Naf, Cassia, Idaho.
Merrill was born in the middle of the “Great Depression” (1926 – 1939) and lived in Garland until he was eight years of age. He attended the Garland Elementary school up to and including the 2nd grade (The school was a three story red brick building located two blocks north of his home (demolished in 1970). During this time, when old enough, Merrill’s chores consisted of grazing cattle on the “Y” section of railroad tracks locate north/east of his home and he would milk the cows at night. He also helped his parents with the raising of 5 to 6 turkeys that the family used for personal needs and financial needs. While Merrill was taking care of things in Garland, his father was working on a dry farm in Clear Creek, Box Elder, Utah along with his older brothers.
At the age of eight Merrill moved to Clear Creek where he started the 3rd grade in 1938. He attended a one room school with grades 1-6 with his brothers Frank and Theron and graduate the sixth grade in 1942. During this time he help work the farm his father was working for one of his father’s wife’s uncle (Joseph Nicholas Sorensen). He stated that he was thrown out of the only window due to a disagreement between himself and another student of which he received the blame. The school was heated with a potbelly stove and was rather insufficient in the winters.
At sometime while living at Clear Creek the boy’s adopted a baby dear. The dear was more interested in the daily meals instead of playing with the boys. In an interview conducted in 2000, Merrill stated “the most common activities when not working was fishing, cowboys and Indian, and cops and robbers.”
He next attended school (7-11th grade) in Malta, Cassia, Idaho until his senior year, 1950. He had an interest in playing football, but his mother would not let him due to two factor: her fear of him getting injured (a broken arm/leg) and the lack of family insurance. Merrill ended up playing center for the Raft River High basketball team, a leaser contact sport. However, due to his move back to Garland, where he attended Bear River High School (Class of 1949-1950), his interest in sports did not follow. Merrill finished his education during the last three quarters of his senior year at Bear River and graduated in May with the Class of 1950.
Merrill was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was baptized by Merrill Jensen, a Priest, and confirmed a member of said church by Halvor Skinner, an Elder, on 29 June 1940. He was baptized in the Bear River High School swimming pool. He was a member of the Garland Ward, Bear River Stake, Garland, Utah. Merrill worked and live on the farm his father was work at Clear Creek, Utah, and was a member of the Malta Ward, Raft River Stake, Idaho. He had the Aaronic Priesthood conferred and ordained to the office of a Deacon on 23 June 1947 by Shirley H. Barlow, a High Priest and his Bishop, Raft River Stake. On 21 August, Merrill was advance in the Aaronic Priesthood to the office of Teacher by J. Henry Thompson on 11 June 1950, Raft River Stake, He was ordained to the office of Priest by W. Lee Thompson, no record of date, Bear River Stake. While on leave from his responsibilities at Fort Lewis, Washington, Merrill had the Melchizedek Priesthood conferred and ordained an Elder on 30 December 1950 by Duan Archibald, just before he left for overseas service in the United States Army.
Merrill’s brothers Frank and Don were members of the Utah National Guard. Frank was instrumental in getting Merrill to join the 204th Field Artillery unit in Garland. In an interview conducted by Merrill’ son Randolph M. Hill, he stated “it did not take much couching”, by Frank, “to get me to join.” Merrill entered military service in Garland, Box Elder County, Utah in 5 January 1950. After graduation from High School, May 1950, Merrill was working the farm out at Clear Creek and on 30 July 1950 he received the notification call from a Mr. Turkey of Pocatello Valley, Idaho, to report for preparation to Active Duty (AD) and to reported to the armory in Garland. Merrill states that “I drove like a made dog to report for duty.”
Between 30 July 1950 and 19 August 1950 Merrill participated in three drills per week at the Garland Armory learning his skills as a “cannoneer” and participating in packing, crating, and loading of equipment, receiving physical examinations, and final processing of paperwork necessary for each soldier entering AD service. Upon entering AD Merrill was described as Caucasian with brown hair and blue eyes, standing 6'0" and weighing in at a health 165 pounds (DD 214). He served with Battery B 204 Field Artillery (FA) Battalion in the Korean Conflict from 19 August 1950 to 9 April 1952 as an Assistant Gunner and was awarded the Korean Service Medal W/2 Bronze Stars and the United Nations Service Medal.
Also, during the interview (2000) Merrill stated that he receive his combat training at Fort Lewis, Washington. This training lasted about three months. Individual soldier skills were conduct at Fort Lewis and surrounding training sits, however the cannoneer section training was conducted at the Yakima Training Center. The Training Center is 100.49 miles by air and 163 miles by car (2 hrs 37min none stop). As one soldier observe about the training environment “If you love wind and hate your life, Yakima is the perfect place for you.” Merrill would have felt right at home because there is’t much difference between Yakima and the Raft River Valley.
On their time off the crews would play football with a modified metal canteen. After the completion of training at Fort Lewis he and his unit left for the Port of Embarkation in Seattle, Washington for Korea on 15 January 1951 on the “USS General A.E. Anderson” and arrive 2 February 1951 at the Port of Entry at the harbor of Pusan at approximately 1000 hours. Merrill was released from AD 9 Aril 1952 at Fort Carson, Colorado. Merrill served, according to his separation DD 214 for one year in Foreign and/or sea service (See Appendix A for detailed timeline).
Upon his separation from AD under honorable conditions, Merrill entered the Inactive Utah National Guard on 10 April 1952. The records show that he was working on a farm for a Mr. Keith Anderson in Bothwell, Box Elder, Utah, returned to his Unit 19 January 1953 at his previous rank of CPL (T) effective 1 January 1953.
Merrill returned to his father’s farm, which he was working on, owned by one of his wife’s uncle, Joseph Nicholas Sorensen from Mendon, Cashe, Utah. The family had moved from Clear Creek to the small town of Stravell, Cassia, Idaho located on Highway 42 just about two miles north of the Utah/Idaho border. From the time of his return from Korea until the meeting of his future bride and eternal companion, Merrill work on farms for various individuals in the local area. Merrill stated in the interview that he really never dated during high school or after retuning from the war. He spent his time working and attending scheduled monthly Utah National Guard drills in Garland. For relaxation he spent time fishing and hunting in the Clear Creek Canyon. Part of the Nation Guard program of training involves a two-week training period each summer, usually held at Camp Williams, Bluffdale, Utah, Utah. It was at this time that Merrill seen and knew immediately his future bride.
In June of 1956, having taken a night off from the Annual Trining at Camp Williams, Merrill and a friend, Richard White, were relaxing at the had seen a girl coming out of the dressing room at the Saratoga Springs swing pool, he immediately told a friend, Richard White “see that girls red and white swimming suit, that is the girl I am going to marry.” He sent Richard over “to get to know me (Melva).” Merrill went over to the swimming pool a and asked “Richard is that the girl you said you could kiss her anytime you wanted to”? Before kissing Melva Richard had asked if he could and then kissed her.
After the swimming pool incident, they went dancing. In a video interview with Merrill and Melva, she stated that “she would not date anyone who smoked or drank.” So he first question on the dance floor was “do you drink, he said no; seconded question was do you smoke, he said no.” So, she accepted the date that Merrill had previously inquired about. Melva thought Merrill “was about the best looking, nicest smelling, cleanest cut guy I had ever seen!” Upon arrival sat home Melva told her mother what Merrill had said, about drinking and smoking, Melva’s mother “well he was sitting right there drinking a drink and smoking a cigar.” Melva’s stepfather then mentioned “if he lies about that your dating a married man.” However, Merrill did not smoke or drink in Melva’s presences while they were dating. In the end a budding romance had begun in those first few hours that would last for time and all eternity. Merrill would drive in from Stravell or Clear Creek in his 1949 brown and white Plymouth, witch cast $650. Merrill stated, “it had four wheels, and I could drive it as fast as I wanted and where ever I wanted.” Most of the “where evers’” were nights and weekend to date or just spend time with his future bride.
In the interview a question was posed to to Merrill and Melva, the question was “Have you ever been arrested or put in jail?” Melva responded with an emphatic “No” whereas Merrill responded with self-admiration “Neve went to jail, but was arrested for drag racing in Malta” to which Melva replied, “when we got married, we could have pasted on one of our bedroom walls with all of his ticket.” The most a ticket coat Merrill was $75 in Burley.
They dated from June 1956 to May 1957, which consisted of about six or seven accrual dates. Melva and he mother had the same names; so to distinguish between the to they had nicknames Mac-a-De and Mac-a-Do. One night Merrill called to make a date with Mela and mistakenly made the date with her mother. Merrill Hill (25) and Melva Alice Sorensen (17) were married 18 May 1957 in Sandy, Salt Lake, Utah at the home of Melva’s mother. The home was located above the Jordan High School. Neither Merrill or Melva wanted a big wedding, close friends and family was all that was required to make the blessed event memorable.
The newly weds traveled to Evanston, Wyoming for their honeymoon. On the drive, Melva drove to the destination while Merrill slept. After checking into the hotel, they wanted to go to a movie but they could not find the road to the drive-in theater they wanted to attend day so they returned to the hotel for the night. The honeymoon was cut shot because Merrill was concerned about his father. After asking Melva’s permission, the couple returned to their home in Naf, Idaho where Merrill was working for an individual named Whitney Hansen. During an interview I hand with Melva, she described the house as “just a small home, with a small front room (abt. 10x10 or 10x11), the kitchen was maybe 10x12, a good size bathroom with no running water.”
The most memorable events during this period were the dances at the Naff Dance Hall after work and the meals, provided by the wives, after the men had finished a day of harvesting. Merrill recounted in his interview that he and his brothers and friends would also go fishing at Clear Creek for relaxation. Melva loved Clear Creek! She descriptively stated that “with the wind playing her mystical sound as she blows through the Quakes’ and pines and the rhythmic echoes of the stream as she passes over the rocks and other local debris natural to the forest in the canyon. The combination of these two natural occurrences brought felling of the most euphoric state of being.”
Merrill worked in the Raft River area as a farmer until September 1957 when he left, with his bride of six months, to work the fruit orchards for a Mr. White in Willard, Box Elder, Utah (RFD #2 Willard, Box Elder, Utah). It was during this time that their first boy child was born. Randolph Merrill Hill was born in the Brigham City, Box Elder, Utah on March 15, 1958. The temperature was a balmy 30 degrees (F), windy, snowy, just a cold day with a few inches of snow on the ground. They named their first child after Randolph Wilson Even Gee, born 2 Jun 1876, and himself. On April 27, 1958, Merrill blessed Randolph (Randy)in the Willard Ward, South Box Elder Stake.
Three months later, June 1958, they moved to Tremonton, Box Elder, Utah to work on a dairy farm for Collen Peterson (RFD#1, Iowa Springs, Tremonton, Utah). It was at this location that their second child of the growing family, was born. Merrill was out plowing up one of the fields he was responsible for, and Melva was in the House nine moths pregnant. Sometime between breakfast and lunch, Melva went into labor. She told Randy, two years old, to go and get your Daddy, he obediently responded to the request. After climb over furrow after furrow, he finally reached his dad screaming out “mommy needs you.” When Merrill reached the side of his loving companion, he found that the child’s head was out of the birth canal. He quickly reinserted the child and drove Melva to the hospital in Tremonton. On a balmy spring day the first daughter of Merrill and Melva came into their sphere of influence, Vera Lynn Hill was born 22 April 1960. Her first name was given in remembrance of Melva’s Grandmother, Vera Roma Tester born 10 September 1901.
Merrill continued to work the farm until May 1960. It was at this time that Merrill had to make one of the toughest decision of his life. It could be assumed that Merrill and Melva had a discussion about the future and it was determined that Merrill would leave the life of a farmer (milking cows and all that comes with it) and go to work for Thiokol as a machinist, one month after Vera came into the world, so with courage and fortitude they purchased a home for $12,00 on 41 West Cutler, Garland, Box Elder, Utah. The home was located one block from Merrill’s parents. The home had a covered front porch, two bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, a small bathroom, and a utility room for the furnace and a washing machine. Melva would hang the laundry on the clothesline outside I order to save on expenses. She would put Vera in the clothes basket while she hanged the clothes. Her doctor, a Dr. Ficklin, told her that the sun and fresh air was good for the child.
One year after the move to Garland, the second boy and third child was born. It was a windy and cloudy day in Garland on the 4 May 1961, the day Danial Shane Hill arrival into the Hill family. He was named after Danial Hill, who was a seaman, his 4th great grandfather, and Shane came from a 1953 western move title “Shane.” Merrill and Mela loved going to the movies, particularly if it was a drive-in movie.
Clear Creek never left the lives of Merrill and Melva, it was about 70 miles North/West from their home and they would often take the children up the canyon, find a place to camp, and spend a day or a weekend. Merrill would go fishing and Melva would teach the children how to have fun in the mountains. The two of children were small enough to sleep in the trunk of the car, for the weekend trips, with the baby on the floorboard inside the car with its parents.
At some point (age) Merrill would begin the training process for fishing the creek, which usually started with the time-honored task of finding the worms, strategically pick out the fishing hole, tactically determine a designated point for the child to stay. Merrill would the artfully crawl to the hole, skillfully drop in the line and fling the fish to the child behind him. Then the child was responsible to carry the fish that were placed on a branch that was cut like a “Y.” One end of the “Y” would be place in the Fish’s gills and then out of the mouth. At each fishing hole the child would be responsible to place the fish in the water in order to prevent the fish from drying out. Once back at the camp site Merrill would teach the child how to clean the fish. At a certain age the child would inherit this responsibility for the family.
Cooking the fish was a simple process. Melva would put the precise amount of butter, salt, and pepper in the belly of the fish, then place it on the griddle, when the eyes popped out the fish was ready to eat. To eat the fish. you pick it up by the tail and with a fork slowly separate the meat from the bones. If cook and filleted correctly there would be no bones in the meat. Both Merrill and Melva were experts!
It was windy and sunny on the day of April Marie Hill’s birth. She was born 13 June 1963 at the Tremonton Hospital. She was the second daughter and fourth child born to Merrill and Melva. The thought was to name her June, but Melva named her April because sh was as beautiful, beautiful baby, she “#was as beautiful as the best day in April.”
Life was rolling along for Merrill and Melva. Merrill had joined the Garland Fire Department, became a part-time policeman, and had learned the roofing trade from a Kendal Atkinson, Mendon, Cashe, Utah. The family was growing out of that one room in the house for the children. There were now four children living in the room. So, it was decided, instead of moving to a bigger house Merrill would build up, take the roof off and add four bedrooms. The project was started in 1964/5. It was a beautiful Sunday morning on the 11th of September 1966 when Merrill and Melva’s lives would be turned upside down.
The three older children were cleaning the upstairs by throwing the dirty clothes down the stairs before taking them to the laundry room for washing, by now the west side of the attic had been completed with two bedrooms. When Randy throw his arm load of clothing, unbeknown to him was a fingernail fail in the mix. In the process of the cloth flying in the air the file came out and hit April in left eye, while she was walking up the stairs. Unknowingly, April pull the file from her eye and gave it to Melva, who was just a few feet away.
After spending a fews weeks in a Logan hospital it was determined that the eye could not be saved. It was schedule to have a plastic eye implanted, that would require an operation in September of 1967; however, the next tragedy in the young family’s life would postpone the eye operation indefinitely. It was summer, Thursday, September 11, 1967, when it happened. The Garland citizenry had scheduled activities at the Garland Park, and it was there that the accident occurred. Children were divided into groups with a group supervisor, April’s supervisor had left the group to get some supplies and while he was gone April seen her older brother having fun on the tubular, half moon shaped, teeter totter. She walked over and was standing on the side of the contraption and when one end was swinging up April slipped off and the full force of the down motion trapped her ankle between the ground and the bottom part of the playground equipment. April tried walking on he leg but was only able to make it a few feet resting up against one of the large walnut tree.
APPENDIX A
This timeline is taken from the book published by COL Whithside, the Battalion Commander of the 204th FA Battalion:
30 July 1950 – Notification of induction to Federal Service and all members of the 204th were called to inform them ther activities and to report to the armory to begin scheduled drills, three per week, until August 19, 1950.
19 August 1950 – Induction Order 6, Headquarters 6th Army, date 7 August 1959, ordered the 204th into active military service of the United State, and thus began Merrill’s period of service in preparation for combat duty in the Korean Conflict. Merrill was a member of Battery “B” and performed the duties of the number two man of a nine man gun section.
Also, on this date Merrill and his unit moved into their armory and became full time soldiers. They were kept busy packing, crating, and loading equipment, as it became available. They received physical examinations and completed their final paperwork necessary for each soldier.
19 – 29 August 1959 – Completing of all requirements necessary for Federalization of a National Guard unit. This process consisted of completing physical examinations, inspection of clothing and equipment, and termination of civilian affairs. (The preparation process starts at the unit and is validated by the active duty component assigned to the task.) while completing the above requirements the 204th was peaking and crating, with some scheduled train time, prior to their move to Fort Lewis, Washington were they would continue with a more intensive trading period testing their Artillery skills.
29 August 1950 – Civilian Officials, parents, families, and friends gather at Brigham City, Utah rail station to bid the unit farewell.
31 August 1950 – The 204th arrives at Fort Lewis after an uneventful trip on the other rail. They were greater by the advance party with a hot meal and a greasing from the Post Commander, the Fort Lewis Band, and other high ranking officers.
1 – 11 September 1950 – Preparation of the barracks, mess hall, and camp area for use. This required hard work scrubbing, painting, and general policing.
17 – 18 October 1950 – Move to Yakima, Washington training area for intensive Field Artillery training.
19 – 31 October 1950 – Training begins which included: live fire, RSOP (Reconnaissance, Selection and Occupation of Position), night movement, small arms fire, perimeter defense against infiltration, mechanized attack (direct firing), and night firing.
1 – 7 November 1950 – 204th moves back to Fort Lewis preparing and cleaning new barracks and vacating and clearing of the old barracks initially moved into for turn back to the garrison (Post).
8 November 1950 – 204th moves into new barracks.
9 – 18 December 1950 – Due to the training range limitations for FA on Fort Lewis proper, the 204th participated in dry fire missions and computations. They entered the training with enthusiasm and much was accomplished by way of technical training in the classroom and in the field concerning Field Artillery tactics, techniques and procedures. Also, during this time frame the 204th completed small arms firing, participated in combat and village assault course, and infiltration course. Of this training the infiltration course offered the most realist training for combats. The unit gained valuable experience during the overhead machine gun fire range.
18 December 1950 – Official alert for overseas shipment to the Far Eastern Command, Pusan Korea.
19 December 1950 – 11 January 1951 – All personnel requirement were complete. Finalizing packing and creating of personal equipment and organization equipment for loading for shipment. All off the above was schedule to be at the Port of Embarkation by 10 Jan.
12-14 January 1951 – All require for shipment of personal and organization equipment complete, unit members were give time for personal items and free time around the Seattle area.
15 January 1951 – 2 February 1951 – 204th is loaded on busses at 1330 hours. The weather was stormy and delayed the bus movement until 2030 hours. After camp clearance the bus went directly to the Port of Embarkation in Seattle, Washington and all personnel and equipment were loaded on the “USS General A.E. Anderson.”
2 February 1951 – 204th arrives at the Port of Debarkation, Pusan Harbor, at 1000 hours.
Appendix B
History of Saratoga Springs
The natural hot springs near the source of the Jordan River inspired early in European-American settlers to create resort known as Beck’ Saratoga Springs, made out to the original New York resort and owner John Beck. The Beck family open the resort in 1884 and use it as there is residence. With several lodge buildings and amusement park facilities , the resort became a popular location for tourists and visitors. The original buildings were taken down. The resort area has now been re-developed privately, containing an outdoor pool, clubhouse, Valerie, and kitchen facility for groups imports.
Merrill Hill
By
Randolph Merrill Hill
2015
Merrill Hill, born 2 March 1932, 4:00AM, Garland, Box Elder, Ut at the home of his grandparent, Mr. & Mrs. Gee, he was the ninth child of Joseph Vernal (Vern) and Christina (Gee) Hill. The Gee home was located on the road the leads to the Garland Cemetery just across the current real road tracks. It was a white house. All of Merrill’s siblings were born there with the exception of Garold Hyrum Hill, the last child to be born to the family. Merrill received the ordinance of “Naming and Blessing of Children” by his uncle, Randolph Evan Gee, on 5 June 1932 in the Historic Garland tabernacle. At the time of his birth Vern was a farmer and Christina was housekeeper in Naf, Cassia, Idaho.
Merrill was born in the middle of the “Great Depression” (1926 – 1939) and lived in Garland until he was eight years of age. He attended the Garland Elementary school up to and including the 2nd grade (The school was a three story red brick building located two blocks north of his home (demolished in 1970). During this time, when old enough, Merrill’s chores consisted of grazing cattle on the “Y” section of railroad tracks locate north/east of his home and he would milk the cows at night. He also helped his parents with the raising of 5 to 6 turkeys that the family used for personal needs and financial needs. While Merrill was taking care of things in Garland, his father was working on a dry farm in Clear Creek, Box Elder, Utah along with his older brothers.
At the age of eight Merrill moved to Clear Creek where he started the 3rd grade in 1938. He attended a one room school with grades 1-6 with his brothers Frank and Theron and graduate the sixth grade in 1942. During this time he help work the farm his father was working for one of his father’s wife’s uncle (Joseph Nicholas Sorensen). He stated that he was thrown out of the only window due to a disagreement between himself and another student of which he received the blame. The school was heated with a potbelly stove and was rather insufficient in the winters.
At sometime while living at Clear Creek the boy’s adopted a baby dear. The dear was more interested in the daily meals instead of playing with the boys. In an interview conducted in 2000, Merrill stated “the most common activities when not working was fishing, cowboys and Indian, and cops and robbers.”
He next attended school (7-11th grade) in Malta, Cassia, Idaho until his senior year, 1950. He had an interest in playing football, but his mother would not let him due to two factor: her fear of him getting injured (a broken arm/leg) and the lack of family insurance. Merrill ended up playing center for the Raft River High basketball team, a leaser contact sport. However, due to his move back to Garland, where he attended Bear River High School (Class of 1949-1950), his interest in sports did not follow. Merrill finished his education during the last three quarters of his senior year at Bear River and graduated in May with the Class of 1950.
Merrill was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was baptized by Merrill Jensen, a Priest, and confirmed a member of said church by Halvor Skinner, an Elder, on 29 June 1940. He was baptized in the Bear River High School swimming pool. He was a member of the Garland Ward, Bear River Stake, Garland, Utah. Merrill worked and live on the farm his father was work at Clear Creek, Utah, and was a member of the Malta Ward, Raft River Stake, Idaho. He had the Aaronic Priesthood conferred and ordained to the office of a Deacon on 23 June 1947 by Shirley H. Barlow, a High Priest and his Bishop, Raft River Stake. On 21 August, Merrill was advance in the Aaronic Priesthood to the office of Teacher by J. Henry Thompson on 11 June 1950, Raft River Stake, He was ordained to the office of Priest by W. Lee Thompson, no record of date, Bear River Stake. While on leave from his responsibilities at Fort Lewis, Washington, Merrill had the Melchizedek Priesthood conferred and ordained an Elder on 30 December 1950 by Duan Archibald, just before he left for overseas service in the United States Army.
Merrill’s brothers Frank and Don were members of the Utah National Guard. Frank was instrumental in getting Merrill to join the 204th Field Artillery unit in Garland. In an interview conducted by Merrill’ son Randolph M. Hill, he stated “it did not take much couching”, by Frank, “to get me to join.” Merrill entered military service in Garland, Box Elder County, Utah in 5 January 1950. After graduation from High School, May 1950, Merrill was working the farm out at Clear Creek and on 30 July 1950 he received the notification call from a Mr. Turkey of Pocatello Valley, Idaho, to report for preparation to Active Duty (AD) and to reported to the armory in Garland. Merrill states that “I drove like a made dog to report for duty.”
Between 30 July 1950 and 19 August 1950 Merrill participated in three drills per week at the Garland Armory learning his skills as a “cannoneer” and participating in packing, crating, and loading of equipment, receiving physical examinations, and final processing of paperwork necessary for each soldier entering AD service. Upon entering AD Merrill was described as Caucasian with brown hair and blue eyes, standing 6'0" and weighing in at a health 165 pounds (DD 214). He served with Battery B 204 Field Artillery (FA) Battalion in the Korean Conflict from 19 August 1950 to 9 April 1952 as an Assistant Gunner and was awarded the Korean Service Medal W/2 Bronze Stars and the United Nations Service Medal.
Also, during the interview (2000) Merrill stated that he receive his combat training at Fort Lewis, Washington. This training lasted about three months. Individual soldier skills were conduct at Fort Lewis and surrounding training sits, however the cannoneer section training was conducted at the Yakima Training Center. The Training Center is 100.49 miles by air and 163 miles by car (2 hrs 37min none stop). As one soldier observe about the training environment “If you love wind and hate your life, Yakima is the perfect place for you.” Merrill would have felt right at home because there is’t much difference between Yakima and the Raft River Valley.
On their time off the crews would play football with a modified metal canteen. After the completion of training at Fort Lewis he and his unit left for the Port of Embarkation in Seattle, Washington for Korea on 15 January 1951 on the “USS General A.E. Anderson” and arrive 2 February 1951 at the Port of Entry at the harbor of Pusan at approximately 1000 hours. Merrill was released from AD 9 Aril 1952 at Fort Carson, Colorado. Merrill served, according to his separation DD 214 for one year in Foreign and/or sea service (See Appendix A for detailed timeline).
Upon his separation from AD under honorable conditions, Merrill entered the Inactive Utah National Guard on 10 April 1952. The records show that he was working on a farm for a Mr. Keith Anderson in Bothwell, Box Elder, Utah, returned to his Unit 19 January 1953 at his previous rank of CPL (T) effective 1 January 1953.
Merrill returned to his father’s farm, which he was working on, owned by one of his wife’s uncle, Joseph Nicholas Sorensen from Mendon, Cashe, Utah. The family had moved from Clear Creek to the small town of Stravell, Cassia, Idaho located on Highway 42 just about two miles north of the Utah/Idaho border. From the time of his return from Korea until the meeting of his future bride and eternal companion, Merrill work on farms for various individuals in the local area. Merrill stated in the interview that he really never dated during high school or after retuning from the war. He spent his time working and attending scheduled monthly Utah National Guard drills in Garland. For relaxation he spent time fishing and hunting in the Clear Creek Canyon. Part of the Nation Guard program of training involves a two-week training period each summer, usually held at Camp Williams, Bluffdale, Utah, Utah. It was at this time that Merrill seen and knew immediately his future bride.
In June of 1956, having taken a night off from the Annual Trining at Camp Williams, Merrill and a friend, Richard White, were relaxing at the had seen a girl coming out of the dressing room at the Saratoga Springs swing pool, he immediately told a friend, Richard White “see that girls red and white swimming suit, that is the girl I am going to marry.” He sent Richard over “to get to know me (Melva).” Merrill went over to the swimming pool a and asked “Richard is that the girl you said you could kiss her anytime you wanted to”? Before kissing Melva Richard had asked if he could and then kissed her.
After the swimming pool incident, they went dancing. In a video interview with Merrill and Melva, she stated that “she would not date anyone who smoked or drank.” So he first question on the dance floor was “do you drink, he said no; seconded question was do you smoke, he said no.” So, she accepted the date that Merrill had previously inquired about. Melva thought Merrill “was about the best looking, nicest smelling, cleanest cut guy I had ever seen!” Upon arrival sat home Melva told her mother what Merrill had said, about drinking and smoking, Melva’s mother “well he was sitting right there drinking a drink and smoking a cigar.” Melva’s stepfather then mentioned “if he lies about that your dating a married man.” However, Merrill did not smoke or drink in Melva’s presences while they were dating. In the end a budding romance had begun in those first few hours that would last for time and all eternity. Merrill would drive in from Stravell or Clear Creek in his 1949 brown and white Plymouth, witch cast $650. Merrill stated, “it had four wheels, and I could drive it as fast as I wanted and where ever I wanted.” Most of the “where evers’” were nights and weekend to date or just spend time with his future bride.
In the interview a question was posed to to Merrill and Melva, the question was “Have you ever been arrested or put in jail?” Melva responded with an emphatic “No” whereas Merrill responded with self-admiration “Neve went to jail, but was arrested for drag racing in Malta” to which Melva replied, “when we got married, we could have pasted on one of our bedroom walls with all of his ticket.” The most a ticket coat Merrill was $75 in Burley.
They dated from June 1956 to May 1957, which consisted of about six or seven accrual dates. Melva and he mother had the same names; so to distinguish between the to they had nicknames Mac-a-De and Mac-a-Do. One night Merrill called to make a date with Mela and mistakenly made the date with her mother. Merrill Hill (25) and Melva Alice Sorensen (17) were married 18 May 1957 in Sandy, Salt Lake, Utah at the home of Melva’s mother. The home was located above the Jordan High School. Neither Merrill or Melva wanted a big wedding, close friends and family was all that was required to make the blessed event memorable.
The newly weds traveled to Evanston, Wyoming for their honeymoon. On the drive, Melva drove to the destination while Merrill slept. After checking into the hotel, they wanted to go to a movie but they could not find the road to the drive-in theater they wanted to attend day so they returned to the hotel for the night. The honeymoon was cut shot because Merrill was concerned about his father. After asking Melva’s permission, the couple returned to their home in Naf, Idaho where Merrill was working for an individual named Whitney Hansen. During an interview I hand with Melva, she described the house as “just a small home, with a small front room (abt. 10x10 or 10x11), the kitchen was maybe 10x12, a good size bathroom with no running water.”
The most memorable events during this period were the dances at the Naff Dance Hall after work and the meals, provided by the wives, after the men had finished a day of harvesting. Merrill recounted in his interview that he and his brothers and friends would also go fishing at Clear Creek for relaxation. Melva loved Clear Creek! She descriptively stated that “with the wind playing her mystical sound as she blows through the Quakes’ and pines and the rhythmic echoes of the stream as she passes over the rocks and other local debris natural to the forest in the canyon. The combination of these two natural occurrences brought felling of the most euphoric state of being.”
Merrill worked in the Raft River area as a farmer until September 1957 when he left, with his bride of six months, to work the fruit orchards for a Mr. White in Willard, Box Elder, Utah (RFD #2 Willard, Box Elder, Utah). It was during this time that their first boy child was born. Randolph Merrill Hill was born in the Brigham City, Box Elder, Utah on March 15, 1958. The temperature was a balmy 30 degrees (F), windy, snowy, just a cold day with a few inches of snow on the ground. They named their first child after Randolph Wilson Even Gee, born 2 Jun 1876, and himself. On April 27, 1958, Merrill blessed Randolph (Randy)in the Willard Ward, South Box Elder Stake.
Three months later, June 1958, they moved to Tremonton, Box Elder, Utah to work on a dairy farm for Collen Peterson (RFD#1, Iowa Springs, Tremonton, Utah). It was at this location that their second child of the growing family, was born. Merrill was out plowing up one of the fields he was responsible for, and Melva was in the House nine moths pregnant. Sometime between breakfast and lunch, Melva went into labor. She told Randy, two years old, to go and get your Daddy, he obediently responded to the request. After climb over furrow after furrow, he finally reached his dad screaming out “mommy needs you.” When Merrill reached the side of his loving companion, he found that the child’s head was out of the birth canal. He quickly reinserted the child and drove Melva to the hospital in Tremonton. On a balmy spring day the first daughter of Merrill and Melva came into their sphere of influence, Vera Lynn Hill was born 22 April 1960. Her first name was given in remembrance of Melva’s Grandmother, Vera Roma Tester born 10 September 1901.
Merrill continued to work the farm until May 1960. It was at this time that Merrill had to make one of the toughest decision of his life. It could be assumed that Merrill and Melva had a discussion about the future and it was determined that Merrill would leave the life of a farmer (milking cows and all that comes with it) and go to work for Thiokol as a machinist, one month after Vera came into the world, so with courage and fortitude they purchased a home for $12,00 on 41 West Cutler, Garland, Box Elder, Utah. The home was located one block from Merrill’s parents. The home had a covered front porch, two bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, a small bathroom, and a utility room for the furnace and a washing machine. Melva would hang the laundry on the clothesline outside I order to save on expenses. She would put Vera in the clothes basket while she hanged the clothes. Her doctor, a Dr. Ficklin, told her that the sun and fresh air was good for the child.
One year after the move to Garland, the second boy and third child was born. It was a windy and cloudy day in Garland on the 4 May 1961, the day Danial Shane Hill arrival into the Hill family. He was named after Danial Hill, who was a seaman, his 4th great grandfather, and Shane came from a 1953 western move title “Shane.” Merrill and Mela loved going to the movies, particularly if it was a drive-in movie.
Clear Creek never left the lives of Merrill and Melva, it was about 70 miles North/West from their home and they would often take the children up the canyon, find a place to camp, and spend a day or a weekend. Merrill would go fishing and Melva would teach the children how to have fun in the mountains. The two of children were small enough to sleep in the trunk of the car, for the weekend trips, with the baby on the floorboard inside the car with its parents.
At some point (age) Merrill would begin the training process for fishing the creek, which usually started with the time-honored task of finding the worms, strategically pick out the fishing hole, tactically determine a designated point for the child to stay. Merrill would the artfully crawl to the hole, skillfully drop in the line and fling the fish to the child behind him. Then the child was responsible to carry the fish that were placed on a branch that was cut like a “Y.” One end of the “Y” would be place in the Fish’s gills and then out of the mouth. At each fishing hole the child would be responsible to place the fish in the water in order to prevent the fish from drying out. Once back at the camp site Merrill would teach the child how to clean the fish. At a certain age the child would inherit this responsibility for the family.
Cooking the fish was a simple process. Melva would put the precise amount of butter, salt, and pepper in the belly of the fish, then place it on the griddle, when the eyes popped out the fish was ready to eat. To eat the fish. you pick it up by the tail and with a fork slowly separate the meat from the bones. If cook and filleted correctly there would be no bones in the meat. Both Merrill and Melva were experts!
It was windy and sunny on the day of April Marie Hill’s birth. She was born 13 June 1963 at the Tremonton Hospital. She was the second daughter and fourth child born to Merrill and Melva. The thought was to name her June, but Melva named her April because sh was as beautiful, beautiful baby, she “#was as beautiful as the best day in April.”
Life was rolling along for Merrill and Melva. Merrill had joined the Garland Fire Department, became a part-time policeman, and had learned the roofing trade from a Kendal Atkinson, Mendon, Cashe, Utah. The family was growing out of that one room in the house for the children. There were now four children living in the room. So, it was decided, instead of moving to a bigger house Merrill would build up, take the roof off and add four bedrooms. The project was started in 1964/5. It was a beautiful Sunday morning on the 11th of September 1966 when Merrill and Melva’s lives would be turned upside down.
The three older children were cleaning the upstairs by throwing the dirty clothes down the stairs before taking them to the laundry room for washing, by now the west side of the attic had been completed with two bedrooms. When Randy throw his arm load of clothing, unbeknown to him was a fingernail fail in the mix. In the process of the cloth flying in the air the file came out and hit April in left eye, while she was walking up the stairs. Unknowingly, April pull the file from her eye and gave it to Melva, who was just a few feet away.
After spending a fews weeks in a Logan hospital it was determined that the eye could not be saved. It was schedule to have a plastic eye implanted, that would require an operation in September of 1967; however, the next tragedy in the young family’s life would postpone the eye operation indefinitely. It was summer, Thursday, September 11, 1967, when it happened. The Garland citizenry had scheduled activities at the Garland Park, and it was there that the accident occurred. Children were divided into groups with a group supervisor, April’s supervisor had left the group to get some supplies and while he was gone April seen her older brother having fun on the tubular, half moon shaped, teeter totter. She walked over and was standing on the side of the contraption and when one end was swinging up April slipped off and the full force of the down motion trapped her ankle between the ground and the bottom part of the playground equipment. April tried walking on he leg but was only able to make it a few feet resting up against one of the large walnut tree.
APPENDIX A
This timeline is taken from the book published by COL Whithside, the Battalion Commander of the 204th FA Battalion:
30 July 1950 – Notification of induction to Federal Service and all members of the 204th were called to inform them ther activities and to report to the armory to begin scheduled drills, three per week, until August 19, 1950.
19 August 1950 – Induction Order 6, Headquarters 6th Army, date 7 August 1959, ordered the 204th into active military service of the United State, and thus began Merrill’s period of service in preparation for combat duty in the Korean Conflict. Merrill was a member of Battery “B” and performed the duties of the number two man of a nine man gun section.
Also, on this date Merrill and his unit moved into their armory and became full time soldiers. They were kept busy packing, crating, and loading equipment, as it became available. They received physical examinations and completed their final paperwork necessary for each soldier.
19 – 29 August 1959 – Completing of all requirements necessary for Federalization of a National Guard unit. This process consisted of completing physical examinations, inspection of clothing and equipment, and termination of civilian affairs. (The preparation process starts at the unit and is validated by the active duty component assigned to the task.) while completing the above requirements the 204th was peaking and crating, with some scheduled train time, prior to their move to Fort Lewis, Washington were they would continue with a more intensive trading period testing their Artillery skills.
29 August 1950 – Civilian Officials, parents, families, and friends gather at Brigham City, Utah rail station to bid the unit farewell.
31 August 1950 – The 204th arrives at Fort Lewis after an uneventful trip on the other rail. They were greater by the advance party with a hot meal and a greasing from the Post Commander, the Fort Lewis Band, and other high ranking officers.
1 – 11 September 1950 – Preparation of the barracks, mess hall, and camp area for use. This required hard work scrubbing, painting, and general policing.
17 – 18 October 1950 – Move to Yakima, Washington training area for intensive Field Artillery training.
19 – 31 October 1950 – Training begins which included: live fire, RSOP (Reconnaissance, Selection and Occupation of Position), night movement, small arms fire, perimeter defense against infiltration, mechanized attack (direct firing), and night firing.
1 – 7 November 1950 – 204th moves back to Fort Lewis preparing and cleaning new barracks and vacating and clearing of the old barracks initially moved into for turn back to the garrison (Post).
8 November 1950 – 204th moves into new barracks.
9 – 18 December 1950 – Due to the training range limitations for FA on Fort Lewis proper, the 204th participated in dry fire missions and computations. They entered the training with enthusiasm and much was accomplished by way of technical training in the classroom and in the field concerning Field Artillery tactics, techniques and procedures. Also, during this time frame the 204th completed small arms firing, participated in combat and village assault course, and infiltration course. Of this training the infiltration course offered the most realist training for combats. The unit gained valuable experience during the overhead machine gun fire range.
18 December 1950 – Official alert for overseas shipment to the Far Eastern Command, Pusan Korea.
19 December 1950 – 11 January 1951 – All personnel requirement were complete. Finalizing packing and creating of personal equipment and organization equipment for loading for shipment. All off the above was schedule to be at the Port of Embarkation by 10 Jan.
12-14 January 1951 – All require for shipment of personal and organization equipment complete, unit members were give time for personal items and free time around the Seattle area.
15 January 1951 – 2 February 1951 – 204th is loaded on busses at 1330 hours. The weather was stormy and delayed the bus movement until 2030 hours. After camp clearance the bus went directly to the Port of Embarkation in Seattle, Washington and all personnel and equipment were loaded on the “USS General A.E. Anderson.”
2 February 1951 – 204th arrives at the Port of Debarkation, Pusan Harbor, at 1000 hours.
Appendix B
History of Saratoga Springs
The natural hot springs near the source of the Jordan River inspired early in European-American settlers to create resort known as Beck’ Saratoga Springs, made out to the original New York resort and owner John Beck. The Beck family open the resort in 1884 and use it as there is residence. With several lodge buildings and amusement park facilities , the resort became a popular location for tourists and visitors. The original buildings were taken down. The resort area has now been re-developed privately, containing an outdoor pool, clubhouse, Valerie, and kitchen facility for groups imports.