After attending flight school at the Naval Coastal Air Station in Cape May, New Jersey, Hill served as one of the Marine Corps' first
aviators. In 1918, he served as a pilot with the
1st Marine Aeronautic Company, flying
seaplane patrols in the
Azores. In 1920, Hill was assigned as a member of the Naval Alaskan Coal Commission, where he served as a
geologist during the survey of Alaskan coal fields. Hill was awarded the
Navy Distinguished Service Medal his "exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in positions of great responsibility to the Government of the United States" from 8 September 1939 to 1947, including for his role in the design of the Marine Corps base at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina: "He was entirely and almost solely responsible for the detailed layout of the establishment."{{cite web|accessdate=April 25, 2025 Hill died on December 6, 1965, in
Bethesda Naval Hospital at the age of 70. He is buried in
Arlington National Cemetery{{cite news|accessdate=25 April 2025|url=https://www.cherokeephoenix.org/we_served/major-general-william-hill-inducted-into-oklahoma-military-hall-of-fame/article_2acf6412-d285-11ef-b0b1-17350078dc94.html ==Decorations==