Medals of local hero donated
Published on October 8th, 2003
STONEHAM, MA - The military medals of a Stoneham hero whose 1946 death closed the town's schools, public buildings and businesses will soon return to the town.
On this Saturday at 2 pm, family members of George Hall, a life-long Stoneham resident and World War II veteran, will present the military medals to the town at a ceremony in front of Town Hall. Including the Congressional Medal of Honor, the military's highest distinction, Hall's belongings are slated to be displayed in Town Clerk John Hanright's office.
"I'm thrilled that they can be shown in Stoneham. And I think it's important that people realize that we're able to do what we do because of people like John Hall. They [the family] want people to see this on a daily basis, so it didn't seem appropriate to put it in the hearing room or in the conference room upstairs," remarked Hanright.
American Legion Commander and World War II veteran Ethel LaSalle also expressed her excitement at seeing the medals return to the town.
"I think it's an honor for World War II veterans, and the family is very happy to give these medals back to the Town of Stoneham," said LaSalle, who will take part in the ceremony along with the town's VFW post.
Staff Sergeant John Hall joined the military on January 5, 1937 and served with the 182 Regiment's I Company and later with the regular Army as part of the 135 Infantry's, 34 Infantry Division.
Traveling to Italy in 1943 to push the German occupying force out of the country, Hall received the Congressional Medal of Honor for securing nine POW's and taking out two machine gun nests before receiving what would later prove a mortal wound from an exploding artillery shell.
The artillery shell, exploding as Hall crawled towards a third German machine gun nest that had pinned down the advance of his company, nearly severed his right leg and tore shrapnel through his left leg and body. After unsuccessfully trying to crawl back to his platoon after sustaining the wound, Hall cut his own leg off with a sheath knife and managed to make the 75-yard trip back to the American lines.
"Staff Sergeant Hall was cited for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty in attacking the enemy across flat, open terrain under direct enemy observation. With two enemy machineguns eliminated, his company was able to flank the third and continue its advance without incurring excessive casualties," reads one account of Hall's feats.
Although Hall survived for nearly three years after receiving the wounds, he died on February 16, 1946 from complications arising from the shrapnel that had torn into his body, according to his brother, Malden-resident Jim Hall.
Himself a Navy World War II veteran who served at the Pacific Theatre, Hall fought for years to see the medals returned to Stoneham.
"To me it's a great honor to Stoneham, that's the way I feel about it. Finally the medals will come home. I'm real glad this is being done. I wanted to do it, but I had just about given up on it," Hall commented.
Joined by Great Meadows, New York, VFW Post's honor guard, members of the town's American Legion and VFW will march from the American Legion to the front of Town Hall prior to the 2 pm ceremony. At that time, the New York VFW Post will present the medals to Hall, who will in turn donate the medals to the town.
According to Hanright, as soon as the town is able to inventory the medals, a contractor will be hired to create a secure display for the medals, which will probably be displayed at the Town Clerk's service desk.
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