Hall, John Leslie (1891-1978)

National Archives #80-G-253483
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A huge man and one of the best athletes to graduate from the Naval Academy, "Jimmy" Hall commanded amphibious forces in Europe and the Mediterranean during the Second World War. He was a critic of the "Mulberry" artificial harbors used at Normandy, correctly predicting that they would be destroyed by the first storm, and declaring that "It was the greatest waste of manpower and steel and equipment that I had seen planned for any operation in World War II" (Tuohy 2007). He improved the quality of naval gunfire support by having Navy gunners cross train with Army artillerymen, shifting the emphasis from firing on "targets of opportunity" to  direct support of ground formations.

Transferred to the Pacific, Hall participated in the Okinawa campaign. At one one point he observed that Turner's flagship had anchored closer to shore than his own; he threatened to fire his own flagship captain if he didn't move in closer. His flagship captain complied.

Hall was considered an outspoken, competent, forceful leader, but with a surprising sense of humility.

Service record

References
Naval Historical Center (accessed 2009-7-6)
Pettibone (2006)

The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia © 2009, 2011 by Kent G. Budge. Index

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