World War II Honoree

Leonard Hall

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Bergman, Arkansas

Honored By

Clark Hall

Relationship

Son

THE 3 REGIMENTS OF THE 66TH INFANTRY DIVISION ARRIVED IN ENGLAND NOVEMBER 26, 1944 AND THE REMAINDER OF THE DIVISION, DECEMBER 12, 1944, TRAINING UNTIL DECEMBER 24, 1944 WHEN THE DIVISION CROSSED THE ENGLISH CHANNEL TO CHERBOURG. A GERMAN TORPEDO RIPPED INTO THE TRANSPORT AS IT WAS CROSSING THE CHANNEL AND 14 OFFICERS AND 748 ENLISTED MEN WERE LOST. ATTACHED TO THE 12TH ARMY GROUP AND DESIGNATED THE 12TH ARMY GROUP COASTAL SECTOR, WITH OPERATIONAL CONTROL OF ALL FRENCH FORCES IN THE AREA, THE 66TH RELIEVED THE 94TH DIVISION IN THE BRITTANY-LOIRE AREA, DECEMBER 29, 1944. ITS MISSION OF CONTAINING THE ENEMY IN THE ST. NAZAIRE AND LORIENT POCKETS WAS CARRIED OUT BY DAILY RECONNAISSANCE PATROLS, LIMITED OBJECTIVE ATTACKS AND THE MAINTENANCE OF HARASSING AND INTERDICTORY FIRES ON ENEMY INSTALLATIONS. A HEAVY GERMAN ATTACK NEAR LA CROIX WAS REPULSED APRIL 16, 1945 AND SEVERAL STRONGLY EMPLACED ENEMY POSITIONS WERE TAKEN APRIL 19-29, 1945. ENEMY TROOPS IN THE LORIENT AND ST. NAZAIRE POCKETS SURRENDERED TO THE DIVISION UPON THE END OF HOSTILITIES IN EUROPE MAY 8, 1945. THE 66TH DIVISION MOVED TO GERMANY ON OCCUPATION DUTY, IN THE KOBLENZ AREA MAY 20, 1945 AND LEFT FOR MARSEILLES MAY 26, 1945. IT SAILED FOR HOME OCTOBER 27, 1945.