HALL, WILLIAM E. - Medal of Honor Recipient
Rank and organization: Lieutenant, Junior Grade, U.S. Naval Reserve.
Place and date: Coral Sea, 7 and 8 May 1942. Entered service at: Utah.
Birth: 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.
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