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John Derrick HALLS
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Source : PELLOUAIS Jean-François | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ARMY SERIAL NUMBER | 17091542 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| AGE | 22 yo | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| DATE OF BIRTH |
24 march 1922 Mancos Montezuma County COLORADO | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| ETAT | Montezuma County COLORADO | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| FAMILY |
Parents : Francis William & Doris Hazel Mincher HALLS Siblings : Alpha A, Thomas H, Francis J & Jared P | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| RANK | Private First Class | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| FONCTION | Paratrooper | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| JOB before ENLISTEMENT | Animal and livestock farmers |  | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| DATE of ENLISTEMENT | 1 september 1942 Pueblo COLORADO | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| COMPANY | 81mm Mortar Platoon HeadQuarters Company | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| BATTALION | 2nd Battalion | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| REGIMENT | 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| DIVISION | 101st Airborne Division | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| DATE OF DEATH | 6 june 1944 |
Source : Miguel Marin | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| STATUS | KIA | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| PLACE OF DEATH | Manoir de brécourt | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| CEMETERY TEMPORARY | CEMETERY TEMPORARY of Hiesville more Blosville N°3508 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| CEMETERY | NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY de Colleville
Plan of Normandy American Cemetery | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| GRAVE |
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| DECORATION |
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| STORY | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Certified parachutist at Fort Benning. John arrived in England in 1943. He was parachuted in the night of June 5 to June 6 1944, by the 439th TCG, in the Ste Mère Eglise area. He participated to the attack against the artillery battery that was located at the Brécourt manor. This attack was led by the Easy Company of the 506th PIR - 101st Airborne. 12 or 13 men constituted the attack, 9 from the Easy Company and John (81mm Mortar Platoon), a man from the Fox Company and another private from another unit. After arriving at the hamlet Le Grand Chemin, lieutenant Winters received the order to attack an artillery battery located at the Brécourt Manor (near Ste Mère Église). This battery is made of 4 cannons of 105mm. It threatens the landing of the 4th Infantry Division units on Utah Beach. Lieutenant WINTERS replaces Lieutenant Thomas MEEHAN III who died during the crash of his C-47. He made a reconnaissance of the place at around 8.30 a.m. According to Lieutenant WINTERS, the battery was defended by men from the 6th Falls Chirmjager Regiment (Paratroopers Regiment), which is to say about 60 men. Apparently, in the night of June 5 to June 6 1944, the soldiers who were assigned to the artillery pieces ran away when they saw the American activity on the beaches, as well as the aerial activity. By the end of the afternoon, the unit came back to the Brécourt manor with the support of 4 Shermans to finish the work started in the morning. 
During this attack that took place under a heavy gun fire and using grenades, 3 servicemen died: He died during the attack of the second or third cannon, hit by a bullet in the back or might have died after the explosion of a mine… According to Lieutenant WINTERS, the reconstitution of the Brécourt manor attack was indeed reconstituted in the TV series "Band of Brothers"  John D HALLS dans la série "Band of Brothers" There were often confusions between PFC John D HALLS (81mm Mortar Platoon) and the Tech5th Class John D HALL (HQ COMPANY 1st Battalion 506th PIR 101st Airborne). The second one died in the crash of his C-47 that took place in PICAUVILLE. John D HALL was at first buried in BLOSVILLE and then, his remains returned to the United States. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Activated/Activé |
Normandy/Normandie |
| 15 Aug 1942 | Days of Combat/Jour de Combat 214 |
| Casualties/Victimes 9 328 | |
Entered Combat/Entré au combat |
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| 6 Jun1944 D-Day | |
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Commanding Generals/Commandants généraux Maj. Gen. William C. Lee (Aug 42 - Mar 44) |
Campaigns/CampagnesNormandy (6 Jun 44 - 24 Jul 44) Rhineland (15 Sep 44 - 21 Mar 45)
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PLAN DE ROUTE DE LA CAMPAGNE - CAMPAIGN ROUTE MAP |
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DIVISION CHRONICLEThe 101st Airborne arrived in England, 15 September 1943, and received additional training in Berkshire and Wiltshire. On 6 June 1944, the Division was dropped into Normandy behind Utah Beach. Against fierce resistance it took Pouppeville, Vierville, and St. Come du Mont. On the 12th, the stronghold of Carentan fell, and after mopping up and maintaining its positions, the Division returned to England, 13 July, for rest and training. On 17 September 1944, taking part in one of the largest of airborne invasions, the 101st landed in Holland, took Vechel and held the Zon bridge. St. Oedenrode and Eindhoven fell after sharp fighting on the 17th and 18th. Opheusden changed hands in a shifting struggle, but the enemy was finally forced to withdraw, 9 October. After extensive patrols, the Division returned to France, 28 November, for further training. On 18 December, it moved to Belgium to stop the German breakthrough. Moving into Bastogne under the acting command of Brig. Gen. Anthony C. McAuliffe, it set up a circular defense and although completely surrounded, refused to surrender on 22 December. Its perimeter held against violent attacks. The 4th Armored Division finally reached the 101st on the 26th and the enemy offensive was blunted. Very heavy fighting continued near Bastogne for the rest of December and January. On 17 January 1945, the Division moved to Drulingen and Pfaffenhoffen in Alsace and engaged in defensive harassing patrols along the Moder River. On 31 January, it crossed the Moder in a three-company raid. After assembling at Mourmelon, France, 26 February 1945, for training, it moved to the Ruhr pocket, 31 March, patrolling and raiding in April and engaging in military government at Rheydt and Munchen-Gladbach. The 101st reached Berchtesgaden by the end of the war and performed occupational duties until inactivation in Germany. |
CHRONIQUE DE DIVISIONLe 101st Airborne est arrivé en Angleterre, le 15 septembre 1943, et a reçu une formation supplémentaire dans le Berkshire et le Wiltshire. Le 6 juin 1944, la division est larguée en Normandie derrière Utah Beach. Contre une résistance féroce, il fallut Pouppeville, Vierville et St. Come du Mont. Le 12, le fief de Carentan est tombé, et après avoir nettoyé et maintenu ses positions, la Division est revenue en Angleterre, le 13 juillet, pour se reposer et s'entraîner. Le 17 septembre 1944, participant à l'une des plus grandes invasions aéroportées, la 101st débarque en Hollande, prend Vechel et tient le pont de Zon. St. Oedenrode et Eindhoven sont tombés après des combats acharnés les 17 et 18. Opheusden a changé de mains dans une lutte changeante, mais l'ennemi a finalement été forcé de se retirer, le 9 octobre. Après de longues patrouilles, la Division revint en France le 28 novembre pour suivre une formation complémentaire. Le 18 décembre, il a déménagé en Belgique pour arrêter la percée allemande. Déménagement à Bastogne sous le commandement de Brig. Général Anthony C. McAuliffe, il a mis en place une défense circulaire et bien que complètement encerclé, a refusé de se rendre le 22 décembre. Son périmètre tenu contre les attaques violentes. La 4e division blindée atteignit finalement la 101e le 26 et l'offensive ennemie fut émoussée. De très violents combats ont continué près de Bastogne pour le reste de décembre et janvier. Le 17 janvier 1945, la division s'est déplacée à Drulingen et à Pfaffenhoffen en Alsace et s'est livrée à des patrouilles de harcèlement défensif le long de la rivière Moder. Le 31 janvier, il a traversé le Moder dans un raid de trois compagnies. Après s'être rassemblé à Mourmelon, France, le 26 février 1945, pour s'entraîner, il s'installa dans la poche de la Ruhr, le 31 mars, patrouillant et faisant des raids en avril et s'engageant dans un gouvernement militaire à Rheydt et Munchen-Gladbach. La 101e a atteint Berchtesgaden à la fin de la guerre et a exercé des fonctions professionnelles jusqu'à l'inactivation en Allemagne. |
| SOURCE INFORMATION & PHOTO | Armydivs.squarespace.com |
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| INFORMATION SOURCE | Clive TIRLEMONT - Aad.archives.gov/aad |
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| PICTURE SOURCE | Clive TIRLEMONT |
| PROGRAMMER | Frédéric & Renaud |