Sgt. Donald J. Hall

Biography and Wartime Service

Donald James Hall was born in Detroit, Michigan on June 23, 1925. The only child of a single mom, he was an excellent student and champion builder and flyer of balsa wood model planes—some with as large as six-foot wingspans.

Donald Hall was inducted into the Army in August of 1943 and drove a supply truck, carrying ammunition and supplies to the front as part of the Service Company of the 331st Regiment, 83rd Infantry Division. He served in Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe.

After the war, Donald Hall became an industrial engineer for Owens Corning and moved from Michigan to Louisville, Kentucky, where he and his wife, the former Marjorie Catherine Bartlett, settled and raised 11 children. He was an active member in the community and served more than 25 years as mayor of a small city on the outskirts of Louisville. Donald Hall died on August 15, 1987 at the age of 62.

Holocaust survivors thanked GI with American flag

As a special tribute at the Crowne Plaza Hotel Louisville Airport, the 83rd ID Association Veterans and family members attended a special World War II Flag Presentation. During the War, a US Flag was handmade by internees of the Langstein Concentration Camp and given by them to Sgt. Donald J. Hall. It was now made available for viewing before moving forward to its final display at the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. After discussions internal to the family regarding their father’s WWII memorabilia, Dave a brother to Mary made mention of how 'the beat up old flag dad brought home from the war,' was going to be thrown away. 'What was once too painful or too awful for her father to speak of now needs to be talked about,' said Mary. 'It needs to be remembered so that a tragedy of this scope can never happen again.' Finaly, the children of liberator Donald Hall donated the handmade American flag to the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC.

Remarks were offered by Lt. Col. (Retired) Kathleen Powers, President of the 83rd Infantry Division Association, Mary Kay Flege, daughter of Sgt. Donald J. Hall, Congressman John Yarmuth, U.S. House of Representatives, Kentucky’s 3rd District and Matt Goldberg, Jewish Community of Louisville. In honor of the special occasion, 83rd United States Army Reserve Training Center Leadership, Col. Nelson Irizaryy and Command Sgt. Major Robert Swift attended.

I had the pleasure of meeting Mary Kay Flege, the daughter of Donald J. Hall, on this small ceremony. It was an honor to participate in the Flag Presentation, 83rd Reunion, Louisville, Kentucky, 2015.

Gallery

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