World War II Honoree

Thomas Boyd Hall

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Cleveland, Pawnee County, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENLISTED IN MILITARY SERVICE IN 1942. TRAINED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER AT SAN DIEGO NAVAL TRAINING CENTER, CALIFORNIA; THE NAVAL TORPEDO STATION, KEYPORT, WASHINGTON; AND THE FLEET SERVICE SCHOOL (ADVANCE TORPEDO), SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. SERVED OVERSEAS ABOARD THE DESTROYERS USS HEERMANN (DD-532), AND USS NICHOLAS (DD-449) IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER DURING THE WAR, INCLUDING AT TARAWA ATOLL IN THE GILBERT ISLANDS IN NOVEMBER, 1943, KWAJALEIN ATOLL IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS IN JANUARY-FEBRUARY, 1944; ENIWETOK ATOLL IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS IN FEBRUARY, 1944; PHILIPPINE ISLANDS IN 1944-45; TARAKAN, IN THE NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES IN APRIL-MAY, 1945; AND OKINAWA IN THE RYUKYU ISLANDS IN JUNE-JULY, 1945. HIS SHIP WAS PRESENT IN TOKYO BAY ON SEPTEMBER 2, 1945 FOR THE FORMAL SURRENDER OF THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT TO THE ALLIES. THEN SERVED WITH OCCUPATION FORCES IN JAPAN AFTER THE END OF HOSTILITIES. AWARDED THE COMBAT ACTION RIBBON, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 4 BRONZE SERVICE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND NAVY OCCUPATION SERVICE MEDAL WITH ‘ASIA’ CLASP. ALSO AWARDED THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL FOR SERVICE IN THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES. HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN 1945 WITH THE RATING OF TORPEDOMAN'S MATE THIRD CLASS AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.