“Viking of the Sea”: Task Force 124’s Rear Admiral John L. Hall, Jr. Before Operation Overlord

Author’s Note: During this 80th anniversary cycle of World War II, I hope to correct, at least in some small way through multiple weblog posts, the incomplete historical scholarship given to the U.S. Navy’s missions and activities in the European and Mediterranean Theaters of Operation, compared with those in the Pacific Theater. By utilizing little known records in collections of the NHHC’s Archives Branch, the stories of the men that served and fought onboard ships will be honored––while simultaneously allowing the reader to gain a better insight into the richness, breadth, and depth of our textual holdings. Hopefully these entries will ignite a spark of desire to conduct historical research here at the Navy’s official archives, using the same collections I cite as documentary evidence.
 
Eighty years ago this month, the Allies were in the final stages of preparing to launch the largest, most complex, and important amphibious assault in history, Operation Overlord.[1] American and British war planners continued to create a myriad of operations orders, plans, and directives. Intelligence continued to be collected and analyzed on German Wehrmacht and Kriegsmarine units’ activities in Normandy. Literally tons of supplies were gathered and inventoried to be used once the men hit the beaches. Finally, the many Allied soldiers and sailors who would do the actual fighting continued to train for their particular missions under the watchful eyes of their commanding officers. Each man was assigned to one of hundreds of units of varying size within Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF). Commanded by Supreme Allied Commander General Dwight D. Eisenhower, USA, SHAEF––through its individual land, naval, and air component commanders––exercised command and control of forces during Overlord. The naval commander, British Admiral Sir Bertram H. Ramsay, RN, commanded the two naval task forces: one American and one British. Their objectives were to successfully transport, land, and support the soldiers storming the five invasion beaches codenamed Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword.[2] The heroic and notable actions of American soldiers on Omaha and Utah beaches could not have been accomplished were it not for the equally heroic and notable actions of the sailors in the American task force, known as the Western Naval Task Force / Task Force 122 (WNTF / TF-122).
 
As promulgated on June 1, 1944, the WNTF / TF-122––commanded by Rear Admiral Alan G. Kirk, USN, in his flagship USS Augusta (CA-31)––consisted of five main subcomponents. The first was Task Force 124 (Assault Force “O”) (TF-124) led by Rear Admiral John L. Hall, Jr., USN, pictured below on his amphibious force flagship USS Ancon (AGC-4) on D-Day.[3]

Hall’s mission was to direct the landings of the U.S. Army’s V Corps––consisting of the 1st and 29th Infantry Divisions––on Omaha Beach, hence the “O” in the title. The second was Task Force 125 (Assault Force “U”) led by Rear Admiral Donald P. Moon, USN, in his flagship the attack transport USS Bayfield (APA-33). Moon’s mission was to direct the landings of the U.S. Army’s VII Corps––consisting of the 4th Infantry Division––on Utah Beach, hence the “U” in the title. The third was Task Force 126 (Follow-Up Force “B”) led by Commodore Campbell D. Edgar, USN, in his flagship USS Maloy (DE-791). Edgar’s mission was to direct reinforcements of warships and landing craft when and where needed. The fourth was Task Force 127 (Commander, Service Force 122) led by Rear Admiral John E. Wilkes, USN, whose task was to oversee the logistic support to the men on Omaha and Utah beaches. The last was Task Force 128 (Mulberry Force “A”) led by Captain Augustus D. Clark, USN, in his flagship the landing headquarters craft LCH-414.[4] Clark’s mission was to oversee the installation of one of two artificial harbors off the beaches, codenamed Mulberries.[5] Finally, each of these task forces was further divided into task groups and then task units, all consisting of warships and landing craft.[6]
 
TF-124 would bear the majority of the Navy’s bloody fighting on D-Day. To accomplish their missions, the force’s sailors manned an incredible number and variety of ships. This is illustrated in Rear Admiral Kirk’s thorough Operation Plan No. 2-44 of April 21, 1944, one of the primary foundations for all WNTF / TF-122 Overlord plans. The first page of this document, pictured below, lists the composition of the WNTF / TF-122 itself, along with the first elements in
TF-124.[7]

The major hulls assigned to TF-124 as listed in Plan No. 2-44 included: one patrol torpedo boat, seven attack transports, thirty-three landing craft infantry (large)’s, twenty-four landing ship tanks, 131 landing craft tanks, two battleships, three light cruisers––including two of the Free French Navy––nine destroyers, and one destroyer escort.[8] The fighting at Omaha Beach would be horrific in every sense of the word. The sailors onboard these vessels would have to overcome great physical and mental obstacles to enable their soldier brothers-in-arms to accomplish their objectives. Thankfully, Rear Admiral Hall was just the right man with the right experience to lead his sailors to victory at “Bloody Omaha.”[9]

John Lesslie Hall, Jr., was born on April 11, 1891, in Williamsburg, Virginia, to John Lesslie Hall and Margaret Fenwick Hall (née Farland). His father––an extremely learned man who earned three doctoral degrees in philosophy, laws, and letters––was Dean of the Faculty and Professor of English Language and Literature at the College of William and Mary (W&M). Probably on the encouragement of his father, after graduating from Williamsburg High School the younger Hall attended W&M from 1905–1909. While there he played on the football team and was a member of the Kappa Sigma social fraternity. However, he did not complete his studies at W&M in 1909. But twenty years later, while rising through the naval officer corps ranks, he finally earned his bachelor of science degree from W&M. As a testament to his academic achievements, on December 5, 1940, Hall was initiated into Phi Beta Kappa, Alpha chapter of Virginia.[10]
 
Playing on W&M’s football team served him well after his appointment as a midshipman to the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) from Virginia in 1909. There he impressively earned letters in football, baseball, and basketball. As a First Class Midshipman he was elected President of the Midshipmen’s Athletic Association and was awarded the Navy Athletic Association Sword for overall athletic excellence. As shown in the photograph below from his Lucky Bag yearbook entry––included as part of his well-organized and full biographical file––Hall’s physical prowess gained from playing years of tough sports is clearly evident.[11]

In June 1913, Hall graduated from the USNA with his undergraduate degree and commissioned an Ensign. He then began his career by serving consecutively onboard USS North Dakota (BB-29), the captured Spanish Navy ship turned-USNA training ship USS Reina Mercedes, and the miscellaneous auxiliary ship USS Hannibal (AG-1). After a year-and-a-half of duty onboard these warships, he reported onboard USS Utah (BB-31), remaining there until January 1918––almost a year after the U.S. entered World War I. He then trained engineering personnel onboard USS Illinois (BB-7) for two months, after which time he moved to Maine to assist fitting out USS Phillip (DD-76) at Bath Iron Works. Upon her commissioning in August 1918, he served as Phillip’s engineering officer until January 1919. That month he transferred to USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) to be her assistant engineering officer. Then in April, he helped to fit out another ship, USS Dahlgren (DD-187), before reporting in November as the executive officer of USS Schenck (DD-159), which he later commanded until October 1920.[12]
 
After his tour onboard Schenck ended, Hall returned to Maryland, where he was an instructor in the USNA’s Department of Seamanship. There he taught young midshipmen the complicated task of safely operating ships at sea. Then on June 1, 1922, near the end of his USNA tour, Hall traveled a short distance south to Washington, DC, where he married Beall Daingerfield (LeBourgeois) of Alexandria, Virginia. Unfortunately, he did not have long to enjoy his new marriage, for later that month he reported onboard the famed cruiser USS Olympia (C-6). He served as Olympia’s engineering officer until December, when from that month until June 1925 he served on the afloat staffs of Destroyer Squadrons, Battle Fleet and Commander, Destroyer Squadron 12. Upon returning to America, Hall served as aide to the Commandant, Sixth Naval District in Charleston, South Carolina, until September 1927. He then reported as the executive officer of the submarine tender USS Camden (AS-6), serving until December 1928, when he transferred to USS Childs (DD-241) to be her commanding officer. He held that command until May 1930, when he returned to Maryland and the USNA.[13]
 
At the USNA Hall taught in the Department of Physical Training, during the last two years of which he was the Graduate Manager of Athletics and Director of Football. In this post he pushed young men to their limits so they could become physically fit to stand the rigors of sea duty. Returning to sea himself in May 1933, Hall was the navigator of USS Wyoming (BB-32) until September 1934. Ordered to report to Asia, he served onboard future-Rear Admiral Kirk’s flagship Augusta as her first lieutenant and damage control officer until January 1935, when he took command of the patrol gunboat USS Ashville (PG-21). Remaining onboard until April 1936, he then assumed command of Destroyer Division 15 (DESDIV-15), during which time he was commended by the Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet for DESDIV-15’s performance in battle practices. This was undoubtedly great training for June 1944, when he controlled a sizeable number of ships providing vital naval gunfire support to V Corps soldiers. In March 1937, after eleven months at the helm of DESDIV-15––during which time he likely had the following picture taken in his service dress white uniform wearing a Commander’s shoulder boards, his physical strength still visible––he was ordered to return home.[14]

Once in America, Hall moved to Newport, Rhode Island, where he attended the senior course at the Naval War College. Graduating in May 1938, he served on the college’s staff for the next two years. Then on June 30, 1940, he took command of USS Arkansas (BB-33) until April 28, 1941, when he reported for duty onboard USS Texas (BB-35) as Aide and Operations Officer to Commander, Battleships, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (COMBATLANT). Coincidentally––or perhaps not––these were the two battleships in his future-TF-124.[15] His time with these ‘battlewagons’ gave him insight into their many capabilities, which he likely requested to have as decisions were made in allocating assets for Overlord. Three months after the U.S. entered World War II, in March 1942 Hall was temporarily detached from COMBATLANT to be the Aide and Chief of Staff to Commander, Cruiser Division 7, U.S. Atlantic Fleet. He then resumed his positions at COMBATLANT less than three months later. Then in September, newly promoted-Rear Admiral Hall reported to Washington, DC, for assignment on the staff of Admiral Ernest J. King, USN, Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Fleet and Chief of Naval Operations.[16]
 
After two months serving the highest levels of Navy leadership, in November 1942 Hall made the voyage from America to North Africa. Upon arrival, he finally was in a combat theater of operations, undoubtedly eager to see action after decades of peacetime service. Assigned first as Acting Chief of Staff to Vice Admiral Henry K. Hewitt, USN––the commander of the U.S.-led Western Naval Task Force during Operation Torch––Hall later became “Commander of the West African Sea Frontier Force[s], and Commandant of the Naval Operating Base at Casablanca.”[17] Hall was awarded the Navy Distinguished Service Medal for performing the duties of these three positions, where he “displayed tireless and unflagging energy and devotion to duty, professional skill and leadership of the highest order, tact and perseverance and contributed in a large measure to the success of the operation.”[18]
 
In February 1943, Hall relinquished command of the Sea Frontier Forces and assumed duty as Commander, Amphibious Force, Northwest African Waters. He also became Commander, Task Force 81 under Vice Admiral Hewitt’s Western Naval Task Force / U.S. 8th Fleet. In this capacity, he directed the landings of American forces in the vicinity of Gela, Sicily, during Operation Husky.[19] On July 24, 1943––fourteen days after the invasion began––Rear Admiral Hall was awarded the Legion of Merit with a Combat “V” (Valor) device for “exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility as Commander of a Task Force of the Eighth Fleet. The training operations conducted under his leadership, coupled with excellent planning, contributed materially to the successful landing executed on hostile shores by the Task Force under his command, operating jointly with the forces of the United States Army.”[20] General Eisenhower––whom at the time was the Allied Commander-in-Chief in North Africa, thus in overall command of Husky––recommended Hall be awarded an Army Distinguished Service Medal for his part in the invasion. Interestingly, when that recommendation went to Admiral King for his approval, he recommended that no action be taken––for Hall already received the
Legion of Merit for the same operation and King “considered this adequate.”[21]
 
Regardless of being awarded another medal, at Husky’s conclusion Hall energetically prepared for Operation Avalanche, the invasion of Italy. On September 9, 1943, the assault commenced, with Hall again leading a task force under Hewitt. For this role he received a gold star for his first Legion of Merit in lieu of a second Legion of Merit, for “exercising outstanding initiative and nicety of judgment. His great professional skill, resourcefulness and exemplary conduct under fire contributed immeasurably to the success of the campaign.”[22] This was the third medal he received for as many operations, testifying to his skills in planning and leading large groups of men and ships into battle. All of the events in Torch, Husky, and Avalanche set the stage for Hall’s brilliant performance in Overlord. He began this next act in November 1943, when he sailed from North Africa to England to take command of TF-124.[23]
 
Rear Admiral Hall would eventually earn the nickname “Viking of the Sea” by General Eisenhower “because of his daring exploits as an attack force commander.”[24] Hall’s actions in World War II had such an impact on the success of amphibious operations that an Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigate was named in his honor. As beautifully pictured below, USS John L. Hall (FFG-32) was commissioned on June 26, 1982.[25]

The 3,600 ton, 445 foot long frigate––equipped with surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missile systems, torpedo tubes, and a 76 millimeter deck gun––served as a unit of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet for twenty-nine years before being decommissioned on March 9, 2012. During her many deployments, her crewmen undoubtedly found the ship’s coat of arms quite interesting, which is seen
below.[26]

Its symbolism attests to Hall’s innovations in amphibious assault and naval gunfire support doctrine. It also alludes to his many victories leading sailors from the front in Operations Torch, Husky, Avalanche, and Overlord. However, to gain a complete understanding of Rear Admiral Hall’s actions leading TF-124, his remaining personal naval history after Overlord, or the full history of his namesake warship, readers should consult additional primary sources––or read a future Sextant entry that tells the rest of these stories.