World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
John D. Halls
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Montezuma County, Colorado
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
RANK: PRIVATE 1ST CLASS. SERVED WITH THE U.S. ARMY, ABLE COMPANY, 2ND BATTALION, 506TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 101ST AIRBORNE ‘SCREAMING EAGLES’ DIVISION. HE WAS A PARATROOPER WHO JUMPED INTO FRANCE IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS ON D-DAY, JUNE 6, 1944, OPERATION OVERLORD, THE INVASION OF GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE. HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION ON THE DAY OF THE INVASION BY ENEMY GROUND FIRE IN THE VICINITY OF SAINT MARIE DU-MONT AND IS BURIED AT THE NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY, COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, FRANCE. HE DIED DURING THE SEIZURE AND DESTRUCTION OF THE BRECOURT MANOR ARTILLERY 105-MM CANNON BATTERY. DECORATIONS AND MEDALS: BRONZE STAR, AWARDED FOR BRAVERY, ACT OF MERIT AND MERITORIOUS ACHIEVEMENT AND THE PURPLE HEART. HIS UNIT WAS AWARDED A PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION WITH 1 OAK LEAF CLUSTER, MERITORIOUS UNIT COMMENDATION, FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM, BELGIAN CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM, A NETHERLANDS ORANGE LANYARD AND THE BELGIAN FOURRAGERE FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION AGAINST THE GERMAN ARMED FORCES.