World War II Honoree

Walter H. Hall

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Tulare, California

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: 1ST SERGEANT. JAPANESE PRISONER OF WAR FOR 30 MONTHS. SERVED WITH REGIMENTAL HEADQUARTERS AND HEADQUARTERS COMPANY, 31ST INFANTRY REGIMENT STATIONED IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. WHILE FIGHTING AND RETREATING TO THE BATAAN PENINSULA, HE WAS CAPTURED BY THE JAPANESE ARMED FORCES APRIL 9, 1942 DURING THE INVASION OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. FORCED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE BATAAN DEATH MARCH AND WAS HELD CAPTIVE AT AN UNKNOWN PRISONER OF WAR CAMP ON LUZON. ON OCTOBER 11, 1944 HE BOARDED THE JAPANESE ‘HELL SHIP’, THE ARISAN MARU ALONG WITH HUNDREDS OF OTHER PRISONERS WHOSE DESTINATION WAS A PRISONER OF WAR CAMP IN JAPAN; WAS TORPEDOED AND SUNK BY A U.S. NAVY SUBMARINE TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1944. HE WAS REPORTED MISSING IN ACTION, LOST AT SEA ON THE DAY OF THE DISASTER AND MEMORIALIZED AT THE MANILA AMERICAN CEMETERY LOCATED AT FORT BONIFACIO, MANILA, PHILIPPINES. DECORATIONS AND CITATIONS: BRONZE STAR AND THE PURPLE HEART. THE SOLDIER WAS AWARDED THE BRONZE STAR FOR BRAVERY, ACT OF MERIT AND MERITORIOUS SERVICE IN COMBAT AND THE PURPLE HEART FOR HIS SUPREME SACRIFICE IN DEFENSE OF HIS COUNTRY. HIS REGIMENT WAS AWARDED A PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION WITH 2 BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTERS AND THE PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION AGAINST THE JAPANESE ARMED FORCES.