Tonight's Hero of the Match is World War Two, Korea, and Vietnam Veteran from the United States Retired Marine Corps and Army Major Billy Hall.
Major Billy Hall enlisted in the Marine Corps in August of 1941 at the age of 15, 82 years ago! At 16 Billy volunteered for the Marine Expeditionary Force making the amphibious landing on Guadalcanal. From 16-19 years old Billy flew over 150 missions in the Dauntless Dive and Avenger Torpedo Bombers as a Rear Tail Gunner, radio and bombardier over Guadalcanal, Munda, Peleliu, Bougainville and the South Pacific. Billy was awarded the Air Medal with 3 clusters for “extraordinary achievement and meritorious acts in aerial flight,” WWII Victory Medal, Asiatic Pacific Medal, and the American Campaign Medal.
Billy left the Marine Corps and joined the CA National Guard and Commissioned as an officer. He went to Korea and served as an Infantry Combat and Communications Officer receiving the Combat Infantry Badge and Bronze Star. Billy then requested flight school and trained in planes and eventually Helicopter’s. Billy commanded and delivered 3 companies totaling 75 helicopters to Vietnam and then flew over 50 insertion, extraction, supply, and combat missions in a Huey D “Slick model” helicopter.
Major Billy Hall is believed to be the last living Veteran who enlisted before WWII and saw front line combat action in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam.
