Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9592 held a very special ceremony for the rededication of Staff Sergeant George J. Hall's Congressional Medal of Honor, last Sunday, as his widow, Elizabeth Hall O'Connor donated this and his other medals to the Post.

The story of Staff Sergeant Hall, who originally hailed from Stoneham, Massachusetts, is cited as being one of the most amazing personal feats of World War II.

"When two German machine guns held up the advance of S. Sgt. George J. Hall's company of the 34th Infantry Division, he volunteered to knock them out. A veteran of the entire Italian campaign, he crawled 60 yards down a furrow in an open field, all the while under constant enemy fire. Thirty yards from the first gun he hurled four grenades. When the smoke lifted, two dead Germans occupied the position. Using German 'potato masher' grenades found in the first nest, he moved toward the second. A vicious grenade duel followed. Finally, the Germans yelled 'Kamerad!' Hall sent the five Nazis crawling to the rear.

"While he was on his way to attack yet a third position, an exploding German artillery shell tore up Hall's left leg and nearly severed his right. Though suffering excruciating pain he tried to crawl the 75 yards back to his platoon. The pain was too much. 'I lay there and rested a while and gathered my wits,' he said afterward. 'I was still under fire and I knew I'd have to do something. I studied it for a while and then pulled my sheath knife and cut through the two tendons that were holding my right leg on. I was able to crawl after that.'" (Heroes of World War II)

S. Sgt. Hall was discharged from the army on Jan. 16, 1945 after treatment at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, after being cited for heroism for his assault on the Anzio bulkhead where he took nine prisoners as well as killing several enemy soldiers. S. Sgt. Hall was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor at Boston Commons on April 6, 1945. Also that year, Hall was awarded the United States Purple Heart.

S. Sgt. Hall passed away on Feb. 16, 1946 due to his war wounds, leaving behind his widow, Elizabeth Graham Hall, who later remarried. Sgt. Hall refused burial at Arlington National Cemetery, preferring to be buried at St. Patrick's Cemetery in Stoneham.

In July 1946, Hall's widow received his Medal of Valor from Rome, Italy. Documentation from the War Department states, "Humbert of Savoy, Prince of Piedmont, Lieutenant General of the Realm, by His Decree under date of Sept. 15, 1945...upon the suggestion of the Secretary of State for War, has conferred, on its own motion, the Military Valor Cross upon S/Sgt. Hall, George J. In the Italian Campaign he distinguished himself by valor and a splendid spirit of self-sacrifice."

As time went on Elizabeth married Charles O'Connor and had two sons and two daughters with her second husband. Somehow in the ensuing years, during a move, the Congressional Medal of Honor was lost.

In 1998, Hall-O'Connor's sister, Enid Cooke, a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of Post 9592, spoke with then-Commander of the Post, Vincent Esposito, who told Cooke that there can be one replacement medal. In May of that year, Esposito and VA. Liaison Richard Kaupke submitted all the legal necessary papers and forms for replacement of the original medal of honor to the Department of the Army.

As of May 1999, the medal had not been received. At that time Kaupke contacted Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy's office for help. In October the request was approved and the medal was given to Cooke in November.

Past Commander Esposito, who would have officiated at the VFW's memorial service, passed away the same month as the medal was received. Post 9592 planned the rededication ceremony, which was officiated by Post Commander Jack Stein.

Many local officials, veterans, Gold Star Mothers, and auxiliary members were on hand for the special ceremony. Elizabeth Hall O'Connor was honored with certificates from the Town of Hempstead, presented by Republican Party Chairman Joseph Mondello, a former supervisor of the Town; New York State Senator Kemp Hannon; State Assemblywoman Kathleen Murray; and Nassau County Legislator Dennis Dunne.

"We are here today to honor a man who epitomizes those who have served our country," said Stein. He related the story of S. Sgt. Hall's heroism and explained that his widow was donating all his medals to Post 9592. He went on to note that the post had a special casing made for the medals by Veteran Edward Helecki.

County Legislator Dunne took the opportunity to recognize, not only S. Sgt. Hall for his heroism, but his widow for her donation. "What a wonderful thing for you to give us, this post," said Dunne. He stated that the case would be put in a place of honor, adding, "This is the greatest gift ever given to us."

In response to Dunne's statements Hall-O'Connor explained that she had been nervous about what would happen to the medals after she was gone. "I'm grateful that they'll be taken care of," she said, adding that there was no one left in the Hall family. Her sister, Enid Cooke noted, "For my sister to give them up was special. It was like closure for her."

What was closure for Hall-O'Connor was equally important to Post 9592, which serves many veterans in Levittown and surrounding communities. "George J. Hall, we salute you, you'll forever be encased in our hearts," said Stein.