William H. Hall

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to William H. Hall (0-2204031), Second Lieutenant (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Company K, 3d Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. Second Lieutenant Hall distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces near Chindong-ni, Korea, on 8 August 1950. On this date, Lieutenant Hall’s battalion was ordered to take a rock crag in the vicinity of Chindong-ni. One hundred yards from the position, intensive enemy fire from the high ground and misdirected fire from friendly planes caused the battalion to disperse. When his company was pinned down, he took six men and made an encirclement to the left under supporting fire and advanced on the enemy positions. Totally regarding personal safety, he led this small group in a savage, determined charge upon the enemy position and pushed the numerically superior force from the objective. At this point a counterattack prevented the main body of the battalion from advancing. The battalion was ordered to withdraw. Although fully aware of his personal danger, Lieutenant Hall voluntarily covered the withdrawal and then covered the retirement of the six men with him His highly effective fire enabled the battalion to withdraw with a minimum number of casualties. Second Lieutenant Hall was killed while making this heroic stand.
Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 54 (February 6, 1951)