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 Agricultural College in Corvallis, Oregon and worked in the mining industry before enlisting as private in the Marine Corps on May 31, 1917.

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.

Hall was later promoted to the rank of sergeant and assigned to officer training at the Marine Corps Officer Candidates School. He also received the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal for his enlisted service. Hall graduated from the officer course on August 15, 1918 and was commissioned a second lieutenant on the same date. He was subsequently assigned to 13th Marine Regiment and arrived in France by September 25, 1918. Hall did not see combat and was stationed at Brest until the end of the war.

Upon returning to the United States, Hall coached the Mare Island Marines football team, undefeated until their loss to the Great Lakes Navy Bluejackets in the 1919 Rose Bowl. The next 20 years were spent in various staff assignments, where he continued to play and coach football for the Marines.

World War II
At the time of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hall was stationed at the Marine barracks at Pearl Harbor Navy Yard, Hawaii, as commanding officer of the 2nd Engineer Battalion. He participated in the defense of the island and later in salvage operations and was decorated with the Navy Commendation Medal for his leadership during the attack. The 2nd Engineer Battalion rejoined the 2nd Marine Division and sailed for South Pacific in May 1942. He was promoted to the rank of colonel on Mary 21, 1942, and was the first commanding officer of the 18th Marine Regiment, 2d Marine Division, on September 8, 1942. 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 was relieved by Lieutenant Colonel Paul D. Sherman on December 15, 1943 and ordered back to the United States in January 1944. He was subsequently appointed liaison officer in the personnel department at Headquarters Marine Corps in Washington, D.C. and served in this capacity until the end of the war. During his time there, Hall was promoted to the rank of brigadier general on August 1, 1944 He retired from the Marine Corps in July 1946.

Hall died on September 22, 1958, in San Diego, California, and was buried in nearby Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery together with his wife Emma Beatrice Wootton Hall (1895 - 1997).

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.