Hall, Lewis R.

Hall, Lewis R., born 02-03-1895, in Bloom Township, Fairfield County, Ohio, United States to Albert Hall (1864–1936) andf his wife Rose, born Basil Hall (1866–1941). Lewis had two brothers and one sister, Alfred Hall (1891–1971), Edith Hall Price (1892–1987) and Walter V Hall (1903–1940

Hall joined the Army from Obetz, Ohio, and by 10-01-1943, was serving as a technician fifth grade in Company M, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division (nicknamed “Tropic Lightning”) ,

Casualities of the 25th Division, under command of General Joseph Lawton Collins,

  (right)  during their compagne. Total 5.432, killed in action 1.236, wounded 4.190, missing in action 4 and prisoner of war 2.

The division’s rapid movements during its campaigns led to the adoption of the nickname “Tropic Lightning”. It remained on occupation duty in Japan for the next five years. During a Japanese attack on that day, at Mount Austen, Guadalcanal, in the Solomon Islands, he refused an order to withdraw after many men in his unit had been killed or wounded and, with fellow soldier Sergeant William Grant Fournier, stayed behind to man a machine gun. Hall was killed at the gun, while Fournier, age 29, was badly wounded and died three days later. Both men were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on 05-06-1943.

Awarded posthumously, his Medal of Honor citation read:

“For gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty. As leader of a machine-gun squad charged with the protection of other battalion units, his group was attacked by a superior number of Japanese, his gunner killed, his assistant gunner wounded, and an adjoining guncrew put out of action. Ordered to withdraw from his hazardous position, he refused to retire but rushed forward to the idle gun and with the aid of another soldier who joined him and held up the machine gun by the tripod to increase its field of action he opened fire and inflicted heavy casualties upon the enemy. While so engaged both these gallant soldiers were killed, but their sturdy defense was a decisive factor in the following success of the attacking battalion.”

Lewis R. Hall, aged 47, died 13-01-1943 and was buried at Glen Rest Memorial Estate, Reynoldsburg, Franklin County, Ohio, United States. Section, Block C, Lot 698, Grave 4.

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