World War II Honoree

Lewis Hall

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Bloom, Ohio

Honored By

Ralph Bozorth

POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR. TECHNICIAN 5TH GRADE, U.S. ARMY, COMPANY M, 35TH INFANTRY, 25TH INFANTRY DIVISION. PLACE AND DATE: MOUNT AUSTIN, GUADALCANAL, SOLOMON ISLANDS, JANUARY 10, 1943. ENTERED SERVICE AT OBETZ, RURAL STATION 7, COLUMBUS, OHIO. GO 28, JUNE 5, 1943. CITATION FOR GALLANTRY AND INTREPIDITY ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY. AS LEADER OF A MACHINE GUN SQUAD CHARGED WITH THE PROTECTION OF OTHER BATTALION UNITS, GROUP WAS ATTACKED BY A SUPERIOR NUMBER OF JAPANESE, GUNNER WAS KILLED, ASSISTANT GUNNER WOUNDED AND AN ADJOINING GUN CREW PUT OUT OF ACTION. ORDERED TO WITHDRAW FROM HAZARDOUS POSITION, REFUSED TO RETIRE BUT RUSHED FORWARD TO THE IDLE GUN AND WITH THE AID OF ANOTHER SOLDIER WHO JOINED HIM AND HELD UP THE MACHINE GUN BY THE TRIPOD TO INCREASE ITS FIELD OF ACTION HE OPENED FIRE AND INFLICTED HEAVY CASUALTIES UPON THE ENEMY. WHILE SO ENGAGED BOTH THESE GALLANT SOLDIERS WERE KILLED, BUT THEIR STURDY DEFENSE WAS A DECISIVE FACTOR IN THE FOLLOWING SUCCESS OF THE ATTACKING BATTALION.