Congressional Medal of Honor Society
Stories of Sacrifice
World War II - U.S. Army
Lewis R Hall
Details
- Rank: Technician Fifth Grade
- Conflict/Era: World War II
- Unit/Command:
Company M, 35th Infantry,
25th Infantry Division - Military Service Branch: U.S. Army
- Medal of Honor Action Date: January 10, 1943
- Medal of Honor Action Place: Mount Austen, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands
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, his group was attacked by a superior number of Japanese, his gunner killed, his assistant gunner wounded, and an adjoining guncrew put out of action. Ordered to withdraw from his hazardous position, he 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.
Additional Details
- Accredited to: Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio
- Awarded Posthumously: Yes
- Born: March 2, 1895, Bloom, Scioto County, OH, United States
- Died: January 10, 1943, Mount Austen, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands
- Buried: Glenrest Memorial Estate (MH) (C-698-4), Reynoldsburg, OH, United States