World War II Honoree

Clifford D. Hall

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Perkins, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER AS AN AIRCREW MEMBER ABOARD BOMBER AIRCRAFT. HIS UNIT SERVED PRIMARILY AS A STRATEGIC BOMBING ORGANIZATION ATTACKING SUCH TARGETS AS MARSHALLING YARDS, DOCKS, OIL REFINERIES AND STORAGE FACILITIES, AND AIRCRAFT FACTORIES. DURING A MISSION OVER GERMANY IN THE SUMMER OF 1943, HIS AIRCRAFT WAS SHOT DOWN. OF THE 10-MAN CREW, HE AND THREE OTHER CREWMEMBERS BAILED OUT OF THE DAMAGED PLANE AND PARACHUTED TO THE GROUND. HE WAS THE LAST MAN TO GET OUT OF THE PLANE. THE REMAINING CREW WENT DOWN WITH THE AIRCRAFT. ONCE ON THE GROUND, THE SMALL GROUP OF SURVIVORS ESCAPED THE WRATH OF GERMAN FARMERS WHO CHASED THEM WITH PITCHFORKS. THEY WERE ABLE TO EVADE THE GERMANS FOR SOME 15 DAYS BY HIDING IN A FOREST, BUT WERE EVENTUALLY FOUND AND TAKEN AS PRISONERS OF WAR (POW) BY THE GERMANS. THEY WERE HELD IN A POW CAMP FOR SOME 22 MONTHS UNTIL THE END OF THE WAR IN EUROPE IN MAY, 1945. AWARDED THE AIR MEDAL, PRISONER OF WAR MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH THE RANK OF STAFF SERGEANT AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.