MASTER SERGEANT JOHN E. HALL
Master Sergeant John E. Hall, son of Albert & Cora Hall
World War II Veteran, U.S. Air Force
During active duty he was shot down over Germany
and was held as a P.O.W. for 18 months.
Retired from the U.S. Air Force after serving 26 years.
Source: Benton Centennial Bookâphoto included
Foster, Prisoner of War for Two Years, Released
Mrs. Cora A. Hall, of Benton, received at letter Monday, from her son, Staff Sgt. John E. Hall, who was recently liberated from a German prisoner of war camp. It was the first word she had received from her son since November 18, 1944.
Sgt. Hall was liberated April 30 at Barth, Germany, by the Russians. He was flown on a B-17 to Rheims, France. He continued his trip by train to the 77th field hospital at Camp Lucky Strike, about 40 miles from Le Havre, France. He is now recuperating and awaiting his turn to come home.
Sgt. Hall enlisted for army service February 3, 1943, and left the United States April 6, 1944, for overseas duty. He was a member of the crew of a B-17 and on June 18, 1944, while on a mission their plane was shot down. Fortunately the entire crew escaped with their lives, but were taken by the Germans as prisoners of war.
Source: Mount Ayr Record News, Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa, February, 1943
NOTE: SSgt. Hall was held in the West Compound of Stalag Luft I, located at Barth, Germany, which was liberated by the Russians on April 30, 1945.
Submission by Theola Weeda collection
John Edward Hall was born Jan. 31, 1925. He died Jan. 4, 1983 and is buried in Benton Cemetery, Waubonsie, Township, Ringgold County, IA.
MSgt. Hall served with the U.S. Air Force in World War II, Korea and Vietnam.
Source: ancestry.com
