Remembering 1LT Benjamin Hall, Killed in Action 31 July 2007

1LT Benjamin Hall

28 December 1982 – 31 July 2007

Laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery

Secton 60 Site 8648

1LT Hall was a platoon leader of Delta Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, which is based in Vicenza, Italy during Operation Enduring Freedom VIII (OEF 8). He had been in Afghanistan only 70 days when he was killed in action

"Everything he knew was the military," John Hall said. "His mother told him to be anything other than a soldier he said he wanted to serve his country."

The military is in the Halls' blood. John Hall is a retired Army colonel. Both of Hall's grandfathers served in World War II; his great-grandfather in World War I; and his great-great-grandfather was a Union soldier in the Civil War.

The 2005 Michigan Tech University graduate was a mentor to the cadets who served under him. Professors and cadets at MTU remember him as "a solid foundation like a rock that everyone could depend on." 1LT Hall graduated at the top of his class and in the top 5% of all ROTC graduates nationwide.

"When the moment of truth came he was found out in the front exposed and leading his men" said LTC Todd Johnston said in 2007 during 1LT Hall's memorial service at Caserma Ederle in Italy.

Please take a minute to click on the two links at the bottom of this post to read more about what 1LT Hall's family, battle buddies and friends have to say about this amazing young man taken way too soon.

1LT Benjamin John Hall was born 28 December 1982 in Texas. The son of an Army Officer, 1LT Hall frequently moved from station to station living in both Europe and the United States. One of Ben’s greatest accomplishments as a child was earning the right to be an Eagle Scout.

After graduating from high school in 2001, he went on to higher education at Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Michigan earning his degree in International Relations in 2005. In June of the same year, 1LT Hall was commissioned into the United States Army as a Second Lieutenant, Infantry.

In April 2006, Ben Hall arrived to Vicenza, Italy and to the 173d Airborne Brigade Combat Team, where he was assigned to 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 503d Infantry. He was then assigned to be the Platoon Leader for 2nd Platoon, Destined Company.

While serving as Platoon Leader, 1LT Hall participated in three Germany training deployments, multiple local training area deployments and he deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom VIII.

1LT Ben Hall’s awards include the Purple Heart, Army Achievement Medal, Ranger Tab, Parachutist Badge, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, and Expert Infantryman’s Badge. 1LT Hall has been submitted for the Bronze Star Medal in support of Operation Enduring Freedom VIII.
SOURCES for blog post:

Fredericksburg dot com
ArlingtonCemetery dot net