WWII Soldiers Dog Tag Coming Home from France
We were contacted by a retired military officer of the French Army, Philippe ANTROPIUS, who resides in the region of Champagne France. His family was in Algeria at the end of WWII when his father met an American soldier, BERKLEY H HILL Jr. Berkley gave his father his dog tag (1943).
One of Phillippe's best friend is an American Baptist Pastor, who gave him our contact information so we could aide him in finding Berkley Hill, or his family, to return his dog tag - what an awesome thing to do !
We are happy to report we have been able to locate Berkley's family. Unfortunately Berkley is deceased, as is his daugther, but he has a surviving grandson.
ABOUT BERKLEY H. HILL, JR
Berkley H Hill, Jr. was born in Danbury, Connecticut on February 15, 1922, son of the late Berkley H. Hill Sr. and the late Anna I. (Greves) Hill. He was married to Anne (Feinstein) and had one daughter, Judith Hill, born in 1951. He later married Hildi Goldstein.
Mr. Hill lived most of his life in Danbury and Ridgefield, Connecticut. He was in the investment brokerage business in Danbury for over 40 years, and was active in community affairs.
He began his career in the newspaper business and was a reporter for the Danbury News Times and the Bridgeport Post Telegram from 1939 until 1943.
He was a veteran of the Army serving during World War II. He primarily served in North Africa and France in an anti-aircraft battalion as an interpreter in the American Military dealing with French authorities. He was a Staff Officer of the Connecticut National Guard's 240th AAA Group during the 1950's.
In 1946, he worked as Assistant Aviation Editor of the Wall Street Journal, then returning to Danbury, Connecticut to join his father in the investment business that his father, Berkley Hill Sr. had established in 1921.
He was Vice President and Resident Manager of Moseley Securities in Danbury for many years. When Moseley collapsed after the 1987 market decline, he joined the Danbury Office of A.G. Edwards and Son's until his retirement to Virginia in October 1988.
He was the Director and Public Information Chairman of the Danbury area Chapter of the Red Cross and its blood program for several years. For 35 years he was the Director and Treasurer of the Danbury Concert Association and the Director and Investment Committee Chairman of the Danbury Cemetery Association.
On June 5, 2006, Berkley H Hill Jr passed away in Virginia.
His wife, Hildi, passed away June 3rd, 2007 in and his daughter, Judith Hill Bernstein, passed away on June 19th 2015.
Surviving is his son-in-law, Robert Bernstein and grandson, Alec B Bernstein.
Stay tuned for updates as Phillippe connects with Berkley's family and plans are made for the dog tag return - from a French hero to an American heroes family.