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Page 5 text:
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USS JOHN L. HALL FFG-32 MED DEPLOYMENT 2-92 6 MAY -6 NOV 1992 BLACK SEA - MED - RED SEA
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Page 6 text:
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Admiral John Leslie Hall, Jr. (1891 - 1978) General Dwight D. Eisenhower gave him the nickname Viking of Assault. ' General George Patton. tough critic ot tellow military lead- ers, heaped high praise on him. He was one of the toughest and best athletes in the history of the U.S. Naval Academy. These descriptions of Admiral John L. Hall. Jr.. for whom the ship is named, were befitting of his huge frame, his daring military exploits and his prowess as an athlete. However, to Dr. Susan Hall Godson, his niece and biographer, he was a gentle giant, with more than a fair share of humility. Admiral Hall was a brilliant attack force commander of World War II and former Commander Amphibious Force. U.S. Pacific Fleet. He was the Chief of Staff of the Western Naval Task Force during the North African landings in 1942 and received the Distinguished Ser- vice Medal for opening ports and preventing sabotage while Com- mander Northwest African Sea Frontier. In February 1943. he became Commander Amphibious Force North African Waters (Eight Fleet), expertly cross-lraming Army artillerymen and Navy gunners so that his ship call-fire missions could be conducted in direct support of troop ad ance rather than fir- ing at targets of opportunity. His concept proved devastating to enemy forces and tank divisions as he led one of the major assault forces engaged in the Sicilian Occupation (9-12 July 1943) and the bitterly contested landnigs at Salerno (9-21 September 1943). These bold achievements brought him two awards of the Legion of Merit. In November 1943. he took command of the ELEVENTH Amphibious Force in England, earning the Army ' s Distinguished Service Medal for his superb leadership of his Amphibious Force O which landed and so effectively supported the Army V Corps on the Omaha beach sector off the coast of Normandy in June 1944. He received a second Navy Distinguished Ser ' ice Medal for command of the Southern Attack Force (TF 55) during the invasion throughout the Okinawa campaign. In October 1945 he became Commander Amphibious Force. U.S. Pacific Reserve Fleet. He later was Commandant of the Fourteenth Naval District and Commandant of the Armed Forces Staff College at Norfolk, Virginia. From August 1951 until his retirement in May 1953, he was Com- mander Western Sea Frontier with additional duty as Commanden Pacific Reserve Fleet. Admiral Hall was a native of Williamsburg, Virginia, and attended the College of William and Mary for three years before transferring to the U.S. Naval Academy where he graduated in 1913. He staired in ' football for three seasons at William and Mary and for four years at the Naval Academy. As a matter of fact, he excelled in three sports at the Academy and was awarded the coveted Academy Sword for Athletic excellence. Admiral Hall passed away in 197S at the age of 87. THE VIKING OF ASSAULT
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