William E. Hall Medal of Honor citation

The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pleasure in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR to

LIEUTENANT, JUNIOR GRADE

WILLIAM EDWARD HALL

NAVAL RESERVE

for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:

for extreme courage and conspicuous heroism in combat above and beyond the call of duty as Pilot of a scouting plane in Scouting Squadron Two (VS-2) attached to the U.S.S. LEXINGTON, 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, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, 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 three enemy aircraft were destroyed. Though seriously wounded in this engagement, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Hall, maintaining the fearless and indomitable tactics pursued throughout these actions, succeeded in landing his plane safe.

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Born: Oct. 31, 1913 Storrs, Utah… Joined the Navy in 1938… Left the service as a lieutenant commander in 1946… Departed: Nov. 15, 1996… Interred: Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.