Medal of Honor: George J. Hall - World War II - May 23, 1944

Name: George J. Hall
Rank: Staff Sergeant
Branch: U.S. Army
War: World War II
Unit: 135th Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division
Date of Action: May 23, 1944
Location: Near Anzio, Italy

Summary of Action

On 23 May 1944, Staff Sergeant George J. Hall displayed extraordinary heroism during combat operations near Anzio, Italy.

As his company attacked across flat, exposed terrain under direct German observation, enemy machine guns and sniper fire pinned the Americans down and threatened to stop the advance completely.

Recognizing the danger to his fellow soldiers, Hall volunteered to eliminate the enemy strongpoints himself.

Crawling forward alone along a plowed furrow while machine-gun fire swept the ground around him, he advanced to within hand-grenade range of the first German position.

Hall hurled four grenades into the emplacement.

When the smoke cleared, two German soldiers lay dead, while four others surrendered and crawled back toward American lines as prisoners.

Inside the captured position, Hall discovered a supply of German “potato masher” grenades.

Using the enemy’s own weapons, he immediately turned his attention toward a second machine-gun nest.

A violent grenade duel erupted as German soldiers fired bursts from their machine guns every time Hall exposed himself to throw another grenade.

Despite the deadly fire, Hall continued the attack until the position was destroyed.

When the fight ended, five Germans were dead and five more had surrendered.

Still not finished, Hall left the captured position and crawled toward a third enemy machine gun while the Germans fired frantically in an attempt to stop him.

As he neared the final objective, an enemy artillery barrage exploded around him.

A shellburst severed his right leg.

Even so, Hall’s fearless assault had already eliminated two of the three enemy machine-gun positions, allowing his company to flank the remaining gun and continue the advance without suffering devastating casualties.

His courage and combat skill became a lasting example of the determination and sacrifice of the American infantryman during World War II.

Medal of Honor Citation

HALL, GEORGE J.

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. Attacking across flat, open terrain under direct enemy observation, S/Sgt. Hall’s company was pinned down by grazing fire from 3 enemy machineguns and harassing sniper fire. S/Sgt. Hall volunteered to eliminate these obstacles in the path of advance. Crawling along a plowed furrow through furious machinegun fire, he made his way to a point within hand grenade range of 1 of the enemy positions. He pounded the enemy with 4 hand grenades, and when the smoke had died away, S/Sgt. Hall and 2 dead Germans occupied the position, while 4 of the enemy were crawling back to our lines as prisoners. Discovering a quantity of German potato-masher grenades in the position, S/Sgt. Hall engaged the second enemy nest in a deadly exchange of grenades. Each time he exposed himself to throw a grenade the Germans fired machinegun bursts at him. The vicious duel finally ended in S/Sgt. Hall’s favor with 5 of the enemy surrendered and 5 others lay dead. Turning his attention to the third machinegun, S/Sgt. Hall left his position and crawled along a furrow, the enemy firing frantically in an effort to halt him. As he neared his final objective, an enemy artillery concentration fell on the area, and S/Sgt. Hall’s right leg was severed by a shellburst. With 2 enemy machineguns eliminated, his company was able to flank the third and continue its advance without incurring excessive casualties. S/Sgt. Hall’s fearlessness, his determined fighting spirit, and his prodigious combat skill exemplify the heroic tradition of the American Infantryman.