War Hero Billy Hall

[Monty]

Billy Hall was reared in my home town of Sand Springs, Oklahoma and attended my high school. He was a quiet kid and grew up in the orphans home built by the city founder Charles Page. After high school he went into the Army and was sent to Viet Nam where he was a medic in the Army. His platoon was attacked and in danger of being over run by the Viet Cong and there were many, many men wounded. Billy went from man to man tending their wounds until he was hit by what is believed to be a mortar round that blew off both of his legs. They tried to get him onto an evac helicopter but he wouldn't go. He put tourniquets on his missing legs and continued to crawl about on his bloody stumps tending to "his men" until he finally passed out from the loss of blood. He was then put on a helicopter and during the evacuation he died. He received a medal posthumously for his efforts in saving the life of several of his men. The local VFW chapter in Sand Springs has been petitioning President Bush and our congressmen to get the Congressional Medal of Honor awarded to his family for Billy Hall's great act of heroism but so far they have not acted on doing so. Please when you write to your Senator or Representative remember Billy Hall and what he gave for his country. What more could any man have done and not receive the medal is beyond imagination. Thanks in advance. M nty

 

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[SHERMANVILLE ILLINOIS]

Re: War Hero Bobby Hall

Full Name: BILLIE ALLEN HALL
Date of Birth: 9/21/1939
Date of Casualty: 3/9/1966
Home of Record: SAND SPRINGS, OKLAHOMA
Branch of Service: ARMY
Rank: SSGT
Casualty Country: SOUTH VIETNAM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Direction
of the
President of the United States
The
Distinguished Service Cross
Is Awarded Posthumously
To
Billie A. Hall
(Posthumously)
Rank and Organization: Staff Sergeant, Special Forces Detachment A-102

Date and Place: 9 March 1966, Republic of Vietnam

Reason:

On 9 March 1966, Special Forces Detachment A-102 at Camp Ashau was subjected to a mortar barrage and small arms fire. After a day of continuous enemy bombardment, Camp A Shau was attacked by two North Vietnamese Regiments. With the advantage of surprise, superior firepower and bad weather the enemy hurled wave after wave of troops at the weakening defenses on Camp A Shau.

The vicious battle forced the evacuation of the camp, and resulted in heavy casualties on both sides. Sergeant Hall, a medic, had accompanied a company of one hundred and forty-three men to reinforce Camp A Shau. When the attack started, Sergeant Hall grabbed his weapon and aid kit and ran from his quarters. Seeing many wounded in the center of the camp he ran through the enemy fire to assist in dragging the wounded to safety and treating them. Throughout the bombardment, he ran from position to position treating the wounded. Seeing two wounded Americans lying on a road in the center of the camp in the midst of numerous mortar explosions, Sergeant Hall ran to their aid. With enemy mortar rounds bursting all around him, he reached the two men and dragged them into a ditch and gave them medical aid. A direct hit on this trench killed one of the wounded Americans, an interpreter and wounded two other Americans nearby. Although Sergeant Hall had both his legs blown off when this round exploded, he refused medical attention. Being the only qualified medic at that location, he realized his responsibility to the wounded. Only after these men were treated and moved did he allow himself to be carried to the dispensary. On reaching the dispensary, though in extreme pain and weak from great loss of blood, Sergeant Hall permitted only slight treatment of his severe wounds to stem the flow of blood so he might live longer to direct operations at the aid station. Through an interpreter, he directed indigenous medics in caring for the wounded. He continued this gallant task until his body could withstand no more the demands being placed upon it, and he lapsed into a coma and died.

Sergeant Hall's conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the cost of his own life, was a continuous inspiration to the entire garrison of Camp A Shau. His sacrifice was the spark needed to ignite the flame of desire in each man to repulse the relentless enemy as long as means were available. Sergeant Hall's unimpeachable valor in close combat was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Sand Springs Education Foundation's Hall of Fame banquet will honor Billie Hall, a 1953 graduate, and Charles Jestice, graduate from the class of 1958.
Both men grew up in Sand Springs and left after graduation with bright futures.

For Hall, while his future was short, he made the most of that time.

Billie Hall's name is one that has been in the media locally quite a bit.

Hall joined the U.S. Army after his graduation and was later assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division sent to Vietnam in 1965 as a medic in the Special Forces Green Berets.

During the battle of A Shau in 1966, while attending wounded soldiers, a mortar round exploded near Hall, tearing off his legs and cutting his stomach. According to witnesses, Hall tried to drag his torn body to other wounded to treat them but did not have the strength.

He had others drag the wounded to his position and told them how to treat the wounded.

The witnesses said only after the wounded had been treated did Hall allow himself to be carried to a nearby dispensary area. He refused any drugs for the pain and had only tourniquets applied to his legs so he could continue to treat the wounded.

Hall survived for five hours in the center of the battle before he slipped into a coma and died of his injuries. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.


For his extraordinary heroism in action, Hall was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross in 1967 and today local organizations have united to have Hall awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. While the community is still pushing his case at a federal level, Hall will be inducted into the Sand Springs Education Foundation's Hall of Fame.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

23 April 2008:
SAND SPRINGS, OKLAHOMA -- A renewed effort is gaining steam to get a Medal of Honor for a local Vietnam War veteran who sacrificed his life for the sake of his comrades.

The Pentagon has been asked for another review of the file of Army Staff Sergeant Billie "Sonny" Hall, a Special Forces medic who died March 9, 1966, in Vietnam.


http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/bahall.htm

 

[hollowpointred]

Re: War Hero Bobby Hall

what an amazing selfless display of courage, determination, and heroism. if he is not awarded the medal something is very very wrong. he should be honored by everyone.

 

[Monty]

Thanks for looking that up for me Sherm.. I got the info from a 87 year old VFW member at a football game. I was getting ready to make a correction when I saw your post. I got to talking to some other guys and they told me that "Bobbi" was his sister! I feel so stupid, but at least the word is out now. I have seen the Congressional Medal awarded to many other men who did much less and although were deserving, no more so than Sgt. Hall. It's a shame it hasn't been awarded without reservation. Monty

 

[Real de Tayopa Tropical Tramp]

"For conpicous gallentry above and beyond the call of duty". He certainly qualifies, since part of it requires the recipients to know the consequences of their action, he did, more than anyone there..

Unfortunately many medals do not go to those that should have them for many rereasons.

Don Jose de la Mancha

 

[trikikiwi]

Sometimes you have to wonder what it takes, for the 'Powers' to decide decisions.
In my extensive but still limited knowledge; of Bravery! Billy deserves the highest award.

Interestingly - if you're interested
There has been only Three Winners of the Victoria Cross and Bar - in other words Two Victoria Crosses
Of those Three Heroes, Two are Medics
Holders Of Victoria Cross and Bar
Each of the following have been awarded the Victoria Cross Twice Victoria Cross And Bar Holders

CHAVASSE, Noel Godfrey (Reg. No. 207)
Captain Royal Army Medical Corps attchd 1/10th Battalion The King's (Liverpool) Regiment
London Gazetted on 26th October 1916 and 14th September.1917 (Bar)
Born on 9th November 1884 at Oxford
Died on 4th August 1917 (Of wounds)Near Ypres, Belgium
Memorials on grave at Brandhoek Military Cemetery, Belgium; Headquarters of Liverpool Scottish and at Liverpool Cathedral.
Digest of Citation reads:
On 9 August 1916, at Guillemont, France, Captain Chavasse attended to the wounded all day under heavy fire, frequently in view of the enemy, and during the night he continued searching for wounded in front of the enemy lines. Next day under heavy shell fire he and a stretcher bearer carried an urgent case 500 yards to safety, being wounded himself during the journey. The same night with 20 volunteers, he rescued three wounded men from a shell hole 36 yards from enemy trenches, buried the bodies of two officers and collected many identity discs. Altogether he save the lives of some 20 wounded men.

Bar Citation reads
During the period 31 July to 2 August 1917 at Wieltje, Belgium, Captain Chavasse, although severely wounded early in the action while carrying a wounded officer to the dressing station, refused to leave his post and in addition to his normal duties, went out repeatedly under heavy fire to attend the wounded.During this time, although practically without food, worn with fatigue and faint from his wound, he helped to carry in badly wounded men, being instrumental in saving many who would otherwise have Died on under the bad weather conditions. Captain Chavasse subsequently Died on of his wounds.


MARTIN-LEAKE, Arthur (Reg. No. 727)
Surgeon Captain (later Lieut. Colonel) South African Constabulary then The Royal Army Medical Corps attchd to 5th Field Ambulance. London Gazetted on 13th May 1902 and 18th February 1915 (BAR) Born on: 4th April 1874 at Standen, Nr. Ware Herts. Died on: 22nd June 1953 at Ware, HertfordshireMemorial at:A plaque in St Mary's Church and grave in High Cross Churchyard, Ware ,, Herts. Digest of Citation reads: On 8 February 1902, at Vlakfontein, South Africa, Surgeon-Captain Martin-Leake went out into the firing line to dress a wounded man under very heavy enemy fire only 100 yards off. He then attended a badly wounded officer and while doing so was shot himself. He only gave up when thoroughly exhausted and then refused water until other wounded men had been served.
Citation for BAR reads: During the period 29 October to 8 November 1914 near Zonnebeke, Belgium, Lieutenant Martin-Leake showed most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty in rescuing , whilst exposed to constant fire, a large number of the wounded who were lying close to the enemy's trenches.



UPHAM, Charles Hazlitt. (Reg. No.1246)
Second Lieutenant (later Captain) 20th Battalion 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (Canterbury Regt.)
London Gazetted on 14th October 1941 and 26th September 1945 (BAR)
Born on: 21st September 1908 at Christchurch N.Z.
Died on: 21st November 1994 at Christchurch N.Z.
Memorials at: HQ Dunedin RSA and in the Quadrangle of Christ's College, Christchurch, N.Z.
Digest of Citation reads:
Between 22and 30 May 1941 in Crete, Second Lieutenant Upham displayed outstanding leadership and courage in the very close quarter fighting. He was blown up by one mortar shell and badly wounded by another. He was also wounded in thew foot, but in spite of his wounds and a severe attack of dysentery he refused to go to hospital . He carried a wounded man back to safety when his company was forced to retire on 22 May and on 30 May he beat off an attack at Sphakia, 22 Germans falling to his short-range fire.
Citation for BAR reads:
On 14/15 July 1942 at El Ruweisat Ridge, Western Desert, Captain Upham, in spite of being twice wounded, insisted on remaining with his men . Just before dawn he led his company in a detrermined attack, capturing the objective after fierce fighting; he himself destroyed a German tank and several guns and vehicles with hand grenades. Although his arm had been broken by a machine-gun bullet,.he continued to dominate the situation and when at last, weak from loss of blood, he had his wounds dressed. he immediately returned to his men , remaining with them until he was again severely wounded and was unable to move.Holders Of Victoria Cross and Bar
Each of the following have been awarded the Victoria Cross Twice
Updated:18.3.03.
http://www.victoriacross.co.uk/vcandbar.html

Hopefully 'someone involved' in this case, is aware of the precedents
and, I am proud to say, I have shaken the hand of Sir Charles Upham.
Mike

 

[Real de Tayopa Tropical Tramp]

HI: I hate to say this, with absoloutely NO disrespect to them, but did you notice that ALL were officers? It is an unfortunate thingie, but most of the higher medals go to officers.This is disporportiate to the numbers of men in the military.

In many groups, the commanding officer receives the medal under the belief that they can't award it to all of the men involved, even if the CO did not have a part in the actual operation.

Don Jose de La Mancha

 

[trikikiwi]

HI: I hate to say this, with absoloutely NO disrespect to them, but did you notice that ALL were officers? It is an unfortunate thingie, but most of the higher medals go to officers.This is disporportiate to the numbers of men in the military.

In many groups, the commanding officer receives the medal under the belief that they can't award it to all of the men involved, even if the CO did not have a part in the actual operation.

Don Jose de La Mancha

With every respect Don Jose, That happens of course. Some people, regardless of rank, are natural leaders and lead by example.

Mike