He was born in Newark, New Jersey on June 25, 1922, the son of Herbert and Grace Hills.
During Al’s childhood, he lived in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Canada and England due to his father’s job as a retail store executive, graduating from New Hampton Prep School in New Hampshire.
Al entered the armed services in 1942, signing up for pilot’s training because he always had a fascination with flying; he served in the United States Army Aircorp (later the United States Air Force). He was trained as a bombardier/navigator, serving in the European Theater. On the way to buy a bicycle, he was rounded up to serve with a crew for a bombing run. His plane was shot down over Saarbracken, Germany. He was forced to bail out at 20,000 feet and landed on a school roof, slid down and landed on the ground only to be knocked unconscious, and then captured. He served over 14 months as a prisoner of war in a camp near the Polish border. In January 1945, he and over 2,000 other fellow POW’s were marched toward Nuremburg by guards who were trying to outrun the Russians, and they ended up marching them to Moosburg, where they were finally liberated. He was thankful he had good boots and a warm jacket. Al weighed 168 pounds before being captured, and when he finally was released he weighed 90 pounds. He said many of his fellow prisoners dreamed of food; he dreamed of ice cream and ate it every day when he returned home.
After returning home, Al owned and operated a retail store in Randolph, Massachusetts for over 30 years. Al and his family moved to Ocean Park in 1984.
He enjoyed spending time with his family and his dog, Shadow.
Al was a member of First Parish Congregational Church of Saco, UCC and Rotary International. A former member in Lancaster, Massachusetts, where he was Past President and a current member of Saco Bay Rotary, he recently was awarded his second Paul Harris Fellowship by Saco Bay Rotary Club.
He is survived by: his wife of over 72 years of marriage, Josephine (Jo) Anderson Hills of Ocean Park; a son, Robert A. Hills of Ocean Park; and a daughter, Deborah A. Hills of Edgartown, Massachusetts.
A memorial service will be held at First Parish Congregational Church, UCC of Saco in September, date and time to be announced. Burial with full military honors will conclude at Laurel Hill Cemetery.
Dennett, Craig & Pate funeral and Cremation, 365 Main St., Saco, are in charge of the arrangements. Condolences maybe posted online at www.dcpate.com.
Those wishing to make memorial contributions may consider Maine Veterans Home, 290 U.S. Route 1, Scarborough, ME; or the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675.
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