CHARLES JOSEPH HALL
Charles Joseph Hall was born 13-Jul 1926 in Ferguson MO. His parents were Taylor Roy Hall (1882-1947) and Grace Hixon (1902-1955). Charles was their only child. In 1930 according to the Federal Census, the family lived in Marshall Missouri. Charles was 3. In 1940, the family was living at 14 S. Florissant Road in Ferguson. Charles attended Ferguson High School.
Charles registered for the draft on 13-Jul 1944. When he registered, he reported he had completed four years of high school. His service number was 37645078. Charles was inducted at Jefferson Barracks on 16-Aug 1944.
Charles served with the 359th Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Division. The division members became known as “Tough ‘Ombres,” a sobriquet taken from the division’s Texas and Oklahoma origins. The division’s shoulder patch likewise became an “O” superimposed on a “T.”
In February 1945, the 359th Infantry Regiment, part of the 90th Infantry Division, was engaged in combat in Europe during World War II. The 90th Division was involved in the Lower Silesian Offensive Operation, with the 359th playing a key role in the siege and capture of Breslau. The regiment participated in several campaigns during the war, including Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe.
The 359th Infantry Regiment actively participated in the Rhineland Campaign during World War II. This campaign, a series of Allied offensive operations, aimed to secure the Rhineland region of Germany and establish bridgeheads across the Rhine River. The 359th, along with other units, contributed to the overall Allied effort to penetrate the German defenses in the area. The Rhineland Campaign was a crucial part of the Allied push into Germany in the latter part of World War II. It was a complex and challenging series of battles, with the 359th Infantry Regiment playing a significant role in the overall effort to defeat Nazi Germany.
Charles was killed in action on 20-Feb 1945 at near Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany. He was buried at Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery and Memorial.
Pfc. Charles Hall was eligible for the following medals and commendations:
- Purple Heart
- World War II Victory Medal
- Combat Infantryman Badge
- Marksmanship Badge
- American Campaign Medal
- Army Presidential Unit Citation
- Army Good Conduct Medal
Charles’ Purple Heart went missing for many years. Decades later, it was miraculously found in a salvage yard and finally returned to his family.
For more of the story, click on the pdf below.
