TFH 5/8 Edition 1: LTJG William E. Hall, USNR

William Edward Hall was born in Storrs, Utah on October 31, 1913. He joined the United States Navy in 1938 and received a commission as an Ensign in the United States Navy Reserve. He continued to serve actively, and received his Wings of Gold as a Naval Aviator.

By the early days of America's involvement in World War II, he had been promoted to Lieutenant (Junior Grade) and was the pilot of a Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber with squadron Scouting TWO (VS-2) flying from the aircraft carrier USS Lexington (CV-2).

During the Battle of the Coral Sea on May 7-8, 1942, Hall fearlessly dove his Dauntless repeatedly against Japanese ships, and even though his slower, poorly armed bomber was ill suited to the task, engaged enemy fighters so that his comrades could also reach their targets. Even though he was wounded, he still returned his plane to the Lexington and landed safely. For his clear heroism above and beyond the call of duty, he was decorated with the Medal of Honor.


From Medal of Honor Citations for World War II (G-L):


HALL, WILLIAM E.


Rank and organization: Lieutenant, Junior Grade, U.S. Naval Reserve. Place and date: Coral Sea, 7 and 8 May 1942. Entered service at: Utah. Born: 31 October 1913, Storrs, Utah. Citation: For extreme courage and conspicuous heroism in combat above and beyond the call of duty as pilot of a scouting plane in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Coral Sea on 7 and 8 May 1942. In a resolute and determined attack on 7 May, Lt. (j.g.) Hall dived his plane at an enemy Japanese aircraft carrier, contributing materially to the destruction of that vessel. On 8 May, facing heavy and fierce fighter opposition, he again displayed extraordinary skill as an airman and the aggressive spirit of a fighter in repeated and effectively executed counterattacks against a superior number of enemy planes in which 3 enemy aircraft were destroyed. Though seriously wounded in this engagement, Lt. (j.g.) Hall, maintaining the fearless and indomitable tactics pursued throughout these actions, succeeded in landing his plane safe.

Hall survived the war and left the Naval Reserve in 1946 as a Lieutenant Commander. He passed away at age 83 on November 15, 1996 and is buried in Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery in Kansas.

Did you know that the United States Navy has never named a ship for him?