Biography
Education
Hall, son of the literary scholar John Lesslie Hall, was born in Williamsburg, Virginia, Williamsburg, Virginia, and attended The College of William & Mary for three years before transferring to the United States Naval Academy, U.S. Naval Academy where he graduated in 1913. He starred in American football for three seasons at William and Mary and four years at the Naval Academy. He excelled in three sports at the Academy and was awarded the coveted "Academy Sword" for athletic excellence.World War II
Hall was the chief of staff of the Western Naval Task Force during the Operation Torch, North African landings in 1942, receiving the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Service Medal for opening ports and preventing sabotage while commander of Northwest African Sea Frontier. In February 1943, he became commander of Amphibious forces, Amphibious Force, North African Waters (United States Eighth Fleet, Eighth Fleet), expertly cross-training United States Army, army artillerymen and navy gunners so that his ships' call-fire missions could be conducted in direct support of troop advances rather than at "targets of opportunity." His concept proved devastating to enemy forces and tank divisions as he led one of the major assault forces engaged in the Operation Husky, Sicilian Occupation (9–12 July 1943) and the bitterly contested Operation Avalanche (World War II), landings at Salerno (9–21 September 1943). These bold achievements brought him two awards of the Legion of Merit. In November 1943, he took command of the 11th Amphibious Force in the United Kingdom, earning the Distinguished Service Medal (U.S. Army), Army's Distinguished Service Medal for his leadership of amphibious Force "O" which landed and effectively supported the Army V Corps (United States), V Corps on the Omaha Beach sector off the coast of Normandy in June 1944. He received a second Navy Distinguished Service Medal for command of the Southern Attack Force (Task Force 55) during the Battle of Okinawa, Okinawa campaign. In October 1945, he became commander of ComPhibPac, Amphibious Force, United States Pacific Fleet, receiving the rank of vice admiral a few months later.Postwar
After the war he was commandant of the Fourteenth Naval District and, in 1948, commandant of the Joint Forces Staff College, Armed Forces Staff College at Norfolk, Virginia, Norfolk, Virginia. From August 1951 until his retirement in May 1953, he was commander of Western Sea Frontier, with additional duty as commander of Pacific Reserve Fleet. On leaving active duty, he was advanced to the rank of full Admiral (United States), admiral on the basis of his combat awards. General of the Army (United States), General of the Army Dwight D. Eisenhower, Dwight Eisenhower, the Supreme Allied Commander, Allied Supreme Commander of all Allied forces on the Western Front (World War II), Western Front during World War II, gave Hall the nickname "Viking of Assault". General (United States), General George S. Patton, George Patton, who was often a tough critic of fellow military leaders, heaped high praise on him. Admiral Hall died on 6 March 1978 at the age of 86. The papers of Admiral Hall can be found in the Earl Gregg Swem Library#Special Collections Research Center, Special Collections Research Center at the College of William & Mary.Namesakes
The Frigate, guided-missile frigate (launched 1981) was named in his honor.References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hall, John Lesslie Jr. 1891 births 1978 deaths College of William & Mary alumni United States Naval Academy alumni United States Navy admirals Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army) Recipients of the Legion of Merit United States Navy World War II admirals People from Williamsburg, Virginia Recipients of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal Burials at Arlington National Cemetery Military personnel from Virginia United States Navy personnel of World War I