Elmer E. Hall

Elmer Edwards Hall (April 20, 1890 – September 22, 1958) was a brigadier general in the United States Marine Corps who commanded 8th Marine Regiment during the Battle of Tarawa.

Early years Elmer E. Hall was born on April 20, 1890, in Rocky Bar, Idaho, the son of Nathaniel and Louise (née Lovell) Hall. His family moved to Baker City, Oregon, when he was a child, where he attended local schools. Hall enrolled at the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon, and graduated in 1915 with Bachelor of Science degree. He later attended Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon where he received a degree in mining sciences. After graduating, Hall worked in mining for a short time before enlisting as a private in the Marine Corps on May 31, 1917, a few weeks after the American entry into World War I.

Hall trained at the Marine barracks at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard and also played guard on the unbeaten 1917 Mare Island football team, which went on to defeat the Camp Lewis Army team 19–7 in the 1918 Rose Bowl. The next 20 years were spent in various staff assignments, where he continued to play and coach football for the Marines. During the Guadalcanal Campaign, Hall was stationed in New Zealand with the other rear units of the division.

Hall relieved Colonel Richard H. Jeschke as commanding officer of the 8th Marine Regiment on May 4, 1943, and supervised the refitting and further training of the regiment after heavy casualties during the Guadalcanal Campaign. He received orders for combat deployment on November 20, 1943, and sailed for Tarawa. He personally led ashore the Regimental Headquarters and 1st Battalion of his regiment, but because of bad communication with divisional headquarters, he and his men remained for over 16 hours in their landing vehicles. Hall and his regiment landed under heavy machine gun and artillery fire. The 8th Marines destroyed several enemy's positions and helped secure the island. For his leadership during the battle, Hall was decorated with the Legion of Merit with Combat "V".

Hall died on September 22, 1958, in San Diego, California.

Decorations

Here is the ribbon bar of Brigadier General Elmer E. Hall:

Honors Hall Field at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego was dedicated on November 17, 1956, in recognition of his contributions to Marine Corps football. Hall, as a captain, initiated the football program there in 1924.