Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-07-22
COVETED MEDAL FOR HALL

In the presence OF crown VI peoPio
of Fort Mill and vicinity estimated at
500 and gathered in Confederate Park
In Fort Mill, a congressional medal
awarded to Sergeant Thomas Lee Hall,
deceased, who gave his life while fight
ing with Company G. 11Sth Infantry
Thirtieth division in France was pre-
sented to his father w. Lee Hall, Sun
day afternoon. The presentation was
made by Col. K. D. Proctor who rep
resented the president and among the
other notables present were Brig. Gen.
L. D. Tyson of Knoxville. Sergeant
Halls former brigade commander.
Heavy rains which fell in the vicinity
of Fort Mill all day Saturday and un-
til 2 o'clock Sunday afternoon prevent
ed the attendance Of large CROWD
upon the ceremony, many people from
varius sections Of the county who In
tended going being kept away because
of the bad condition of the roads.
The presentation Of congressional
medal to the father Of the late Ser
geant Thomas Lee Hall is considered
an event which places Fort Mill In a
class by itself in the ancals Of the late
war. Sergeant Hall Is the second
member of the Fort Mill light infantry
(Co. G, 11Sth Infantry of the now
famous 3Oth division, to be AWARDED
the congressional medal of honor.
Only 70 of these medals, the
highest award in the gift OF tne
American government, have peen
awarded since the beginning OF tne
war. Six Of the 70 were awarded mem
hers of the regiment Of which the Fort
Mill company was q part and two OF
these six were won by Fort Mill boys.
The presentation was made by Col:
r. ID. Proctor, as the representative OF
the president Of the United states,
through the war department, TO the
father of Sergeant Thomas Lee Hall,
to whom the medal was posthumously
awarded, this heroic young soioler
having been mortally wounded In ac-
ion on October s, 1918, on the battle
fields of France. Few distinguished
deeds in the recent war equalled the
coura geous action Of Sergeant Hail.
whose act Of heroism according 10 tue
official citation, was calmly calculated.
It was not a feat performed on tne
spur of a moment, but oenDerale
deed of daring, done In the tuli con-
seriousness Of the risk assumed.
In general orders No. issued Feb
ruarv 3. 1919, by Major General Lewis
of the 30th division, appears this ci-
iation with reference to Sergeant Hali'
"During the engagement NEAR Mont
brehain, October, 1918, this non-com.
missioned officer was in command OF
a platoon and through his courage ana
Initiative succeeded in knocking out
number Of hostile machine gun posts.
On one occasion, while advancing Win
his platoon, and enemy macnlne gun
fire was interfering seriously with the
advance of his men, Sergeant Hail dls,
covered the enemy In a nearby snell
hole and not willing to sacrlnce ms
men, advanced alone and wiped OUT tne
five occupants with his bayonet. Latef
in the day while advancing upon an
other enemy machine gun post ne was
mortally wounded by machine gun Lle
and later died. His skill as a ieaoer
md his conduct in the face OF danger
has won the admiration of all ranks
Thc official record of his act which
accompanies the distinguished honor
n, "tur conspicuous gallantry and IN,
trepidity above and beyond the can
al uutv in action with the enemy near
Montbrehain, France, October o. lslo.
Having overcome two machine gun
nests under his skillful leadership,
Sergeant Halls platoon stopped ooo
wards from it's final objective by ma
chine gun fire of particular intensity
Ordering his men to take cover IN
sunken road, he advanced alone on the
cucm, machine gun post and killed llVe
members of the crew with his bayone1
and thereby made possible the 1uf-
ther advance Of the line"
The ceremony Of presentation oc-
Cured at 4 o'clock and was maze from
the stand in Confederate park. ABOUT
400 pcople were present and the speak
-.,. we're introduced by Col. Thomas
p, Spratt, of the 11Sth Infantry. "A
splendid address was made by Brig.
Cen. l.. ID. Tyson, who commandeq the
59th Brigade, 30th division. I'his dls,
soldier and citizen traVeleo
several hundred miles under adverse
to appear on the occasion
of the delivery Of this medal because
as he stated in a telegram 10 Colonei
Spratt he, could not miss TINS op,
portunity to see and be with my boys.
He quoted some very interesting In,
formation relative to Fort Mill ana
so Company G., as regards their part IN
the recent conflict. In the severe ngnt-
ing in the early part Of October OF 81
native Fort Mill men In Company u.
seven were killed and % wounded; OF
the whole company Of 1876 men, 33
were killed and 90 wounded; or the