Col. Herman"Hank" G. Tillman USAF, Ret.

Colonel H.G. “Hank” Tillman, USAF, Retired Born April 1, 1922 in Brooklyn, MD the son of the late Herman G. and Hortense A. Dahle Tillman, died February 19, 2012 peacefully at his home on Kent Island. He was 89. Recognized as one of Maryland’s true heroes, Col. “Hank” Tillman flew combat missions in two wars. At the age of 21 he was a B-17 pilot in the Army Air Corps flying missions over Europe, and served as General Jimmy Doolittle’s wing man on the raid over Rome. On one mission, though wounded and at the controls of heavily damaged plane, Hank managed to land safely and saved his crew. General Doolittle personally awarded Hank the Purple Heart. General Twining awarded him his first of three Distinguished Flying Cross. After flying a substantial number of missions above and beyond the number required for rotation back to the States, Hank was sent to Texas as a flight instructor. At the conclusion of World War II, Hank decided to remain in the service, and ferried planes to Korea during the Korean Conflict. Making an unbelievable and unusual transition from multiengine bombers, Hank qualified as a jet pilot, and flew 100 missions in Mach II F-4 Phantoms in Vietnam. While there, he volunteered to fly through a valley for the purpose of drawing fire from surface to air missiles hidden there so that a spotter plane could locate their position and have them neutralized. For his heroism, Col. Tillman was awarded the Silver Star by General William W. Momyer. Hank held various base commands prior to his retirement as a Full Colonel, and is one of our most highly decorated veterans. As such, he is frequently asked to speak by veterans organizations, and has even addressed the White House staff. He and his wife Elizabeth have twice been invited guests to the Court of Queen Elizabeth and Parliament. Hank has been honored by the State of Maryland, the Governor, the House of Delegates, and has served on Senator Mikulski’s Committee for Nominations to the Service Academies. During his service in three wars and thereafter as a U.S. military representative to NATO Forces in Europe, totaling 31 years of service to his country, Colonel Tillman accumulated numerous citations for heroism and other commendable acts which include in addition to his Silver Star and Purple Heart, 2 Legions of Merit, 3 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 16 Air Medals, a Presidential Unit Citation, the Vietnamese Honor Medal, 1st Class, 2 Meritorious Service Medals, a Commendation Medal, the Hellenic Commemorative Medal and various campaign and non-combat medals; and was also recognized with a Walter Anneberg Ambassador Award in 1970. Hank married his high school sweetheart Elizabeth Anne (who also served for a time during World War II in the U.S. Coast Guard SPARS) in uniform June 25, 1944. She predeceased him on November 2, 1998 after 54 years of marriage. They spend many years traveling foreign countries within the service for over 30 years. They had a good life and were involved in wonderful experiences throughout their careers. They would retire to Chester, MD where Col. Tillman remained an active member of the community and an advocate for veterans. Hank was a member of the Masons – Warren Lodge #51, VFW Post 7464 and the American Legion 278. He was also a member of the Living Waters Lutheran Church in Stevensville, and the St. John’s Lutheran Church in Linthicum Heights, MD. He is also the co-founder of Tillman Tool Company, which was established in Baltimore in the 1980s, a company currently owned by his son in Bel Air, MD. Col. Tillman is survived by two daughters, Paula Gately Tillman-Hoffberger of Baltimore, MD and Terri L. Tillman of Chester, MD; a son, Bruce D. Tillman of Bel Air, MD; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Austin Dopman and K. Dale Tillman. A funeral service will be held on 11:00 am on Thursday, February 23 at the Fellows, Helfenbein & Newnam Funeral Home, P.A. in Chester, where friends may call on Wednesday, February 22 from 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm. Interment will be held at the Old Post Chapel at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors on Monday, June 18, 2012 at 11:00 am. Friends wishing to attend are requested to arrive at the Chapel before 10:45 am. Family requests that memorial contributions be made to Hospice of Queen Anne’s, Inc 255 Comet Drive Centreville, MD 21617.

Col. Herman"Hank" G. Tillman USAF, Ret.

April 1, 1922 - February 19, 2012