Raymond S. Hiller; Received Legion of Merit

Raymond S. Hiller, who received the Legion of Merit for his service during World War II in the Polish Army, has died at his Encino home. He was 78.

He earned the award, one of the highest the United States can give to a foreigner, by leading several U.S. officers out of a German prison camp after the Battle of the Bulge in World War II, said his wife, Frances Hiller.

Hiller, a longtime Encino resident, died Thursday of a heart attack, his wife said.

A native of Siberia, Hiller entered the Polish Army in 1939 as a first lieutenant. He was taken prisoner by the Soviets but managed to escape through Romania, Yugoslavia and Italy to France, where he joined Polish Army units fighting with the British. Evacuated to England from Dunkirk, he attended a British staff officers’ school, achieved the rank of major and served as a Polish liaison officer to Gen. Dwight Eisenhower’s headquarters.

A graduate of the University of Warsaw and Oxford University, Hiller came to the United States in 1945. He worked for Southern California Edison from 1953 to 1976.

He is survived by his wife of 41 years and a brother, Henry Hiller of Encino. Visitation is scheduled for tonight from 5 to 8 at Pierce Brothers Praiswater Canoga Park Mortuary, 7245 Remmet Ave., Canoga Park, which is handling the arrangements. A rosary will be recited at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, and a Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday, both at Our Lady of the Bright Mount Polish Catholic Church, 3424 W. Adams Blvd. in Los Angeles. Burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery in Los Angeles. Contributions can be made in Hiller’s name to the charity of the donor’s choice.