Honor Flight Columbus is proud to be flying our 10,000th Veteran to Washington D.C. on October 10, 2024. To commemorate this significant milestone, we will be sharing the inspiring stories of 10 Veterans. Each story we share will represent 1,000 of the 10,000 Veterans we have had the honor of flying. This particular profile shares the story of a couple who served in the Marines and met during their service. Follow along as we honor, share, and celebrate the heroes of our country.
James (Jimmy) Hilles still remembers the very first time he saw a Marine wearing their Dress Blues. This impactful moment, while collecting donations for Toys for Tots, stuck with Hilles and he decided on the spot, “I gotta have one of those!” He officially enlisted in the USMC Reserves in 1968 while he was still in high school. By August of that year, he entered active duty and was stationed in San Diego where he referred to himself as a “Hollywood Marine.”
Originally, it was recommended to Hilles that his military occupational specialty (MOS) be cook, though he was assigned to be a truck driver in the motor pool. He recalled Gas Chamber training where they were exposed to controlled amounts of tear gas to teach them how to survive chemical attacks using their equipment. His fellow trainees would give each other a hard time because they were not permitted to leave the exercise until they perfected the necessary skills.
After basic training, Hilles was sent to Da Nang, Vietnam at just 18 years old. His brother, also in the service, was sent out of the war zone as Hilles entered it. Eventually, his commanding officer ordered him to serve as an MP (military police) and he was sent to Marine Corps Base Camp LeJune to train. This move would forever change his life; here he met his wife Christine (Chris).
Chris grew up in Northern Illinois and was also inspired at a young age to join the Marines. She enlisted in high school as she saw it as her “only choice.” Though her brother also served in the Marines, her father was reluctant to sign for her enlistment. However, he knew it was what Chris wanted and signed for her. She left for boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina just two weeks after her graduation. Like her husband, Chris recalled Gas Chamber training as the most difficult part of basic training.
She was assigned to MCAS Cherry Point as administrative support for the Military Police. During her service, she not only was trained in administrative support, but she learned to drive a ¾ Ton vehicle before she even had a civilian driver’s license. While her company’s Gunny did not like her, she fondly remembers the other people with whom she served.
When she met Jimmy Hilles, she was a KP (kitchen police) in the Mess Hall. One of her friends was with Jimmy and introduced the two of them. Jimmy shared the memory of this meeting saying, “I knew that day. I told my friend I am going to marry that girl. And I did.” Jimmy and Chris were married at the chapel on base at Camp Lejeune. Chris’ family could not attend the wedding and instead, the Colonel in charge of MPs on the base gave her away and paid for their rehearsal dinner. Chris remarked, “Marine Corps family [is] just like that.”
After their service, the Hilles settled in Columbus. Chris said because she didn’t get to “horse around” after high school like other young people, she did that upon their return. Chris worked at JC Penney in Westland and then Eastland. Jimmy worked at The Ohio State University until he retired. Both Jimmy and Chris left the service with the rank of Sergeant E5. Chris said that “less than 2% were female and I earned my rank.” Their lives today stay busy with three cats and three dogs along with Jimmy’s service on the Knights of Columbus Council.
Together, the Hilles took their Honor Flight with Honor Flight Columbus on May 5, 2023, on Mission 121. When they were asked what advice they had for people today from their experiences, they both gave similar responses. Jimmy said, “Be proud of our country and of the military, even if you didn’t serve. Those people keep you free.” Chris said, “Everybody needs to do something important and the military matters.”
Thank you for your service.