Search Other Collections

Steve Hall - Korean War

Steve Hall, a musician with the Illinois National Guard at the dawn of the Korean War, served as a mortar platoon leader in the 40th Division once deployed to Korea in the last year of the war. Hall was wounded during the war and awarded the Silver Star for heroism.

Interview Links

Abstract

Interview (Audio)

Transcript

Photos

Caption
Steve Hall started the war in the Illinois Army National Guard, assigned to the 44th Army Band, and trained at Camp Cooke, California in the Spring of 1952. The band was broken up once they reached Korea.

Where:
Camp Cooke, California

When:
Spring 1952

Ownership:
Narrator’s Photo

Where:
Camp Cooke, California

When:
Spring 1952

Ownership:
Narrator’s Photo

Caption
While on his way to Camp Cooke, California in February, 1952, Steve and wife Margie visited Carlsbad Cavers in New Mexico.

Where:
New Mexico

When:
February 1952

Ownership:
Narrator’s Photo

Caption
Margie Hall in front of the house we rented in Santa Maria, CA. We lived off the base, rent was $60.00 a month.

Where:
Santa Maria, CA.

When:
Unknown

Ownership:
Narrator’s Photo

Caption
44th Infantry Division Band, Spring 1952, Lompoc, CA.

Where:
Lompoc, California

When:
Spring 1952

Ownership:
Narrator’s Photo

Caption
Pismo Beach, CA. Summer 1952. Left to Right: Joe Richiisa, Vic Alane, Steve Hall, Nancy and Louis Spinner.

Where:
Pismo Beach, CA.

When:
Summer 1952

Ownership:
Narrator’s Photo

Caption
Steve Hall and wife Margie at Capitol Airport, September 1952.

Where:
Capitol Airport, Springfield, Illinois

When:
September1952

Ownership:
Narrator’s Photo

Caption
Troops are waiting for instructions at Camp Stoneman, California before they head to their embarkation point and shipment overseas in September, 1952.

Where:
Camp Stoneman, California

When:
September, 1952

Ownership:
Narrator’s Photo

Caption
Hall arrived at Yokohama, Japan in late October, 1952. The trip across the Pacific Ocean took fifteen days.

Where:
Yokahoma, Japan

When:
October 1952

Ownership:
Narrator’s Photo

Caption
Ship to Korea from Japan, 1952.

Where:
Unknown

When:
1952

Ownership:
Narrator’s Photo

Caption
Band members on way to Korea from Japan. Left to Right: L. Fisherkeller, B. Gallenback, B. Allen and J. Duhling.

Where:
Unknown

When:
1952

Ownership:
Narrator’s Photo

Caption
Soldiers on their way from Japan to Pusan, South Korea in October, 1952.

Where:
Unknown

When:
October 1952

Ownership:
Narrator’s Photo

Caption
Taken from train to Chunchon, Korea; October 1952. Chunchon was “jumping off location to front lines.”

Where:
Korea

When:
October 1952

Ownership:
Narrator’s Photo

Caption
On board a train from Pusan, South Korea to Chunchon, near the front lines.

Where:
Korea

When:
October 1952

Ownership:
Narrator’s Photo

Caption
A USO show entertaining the troops in the fall of 1952.

Where:
Korea

When:
Fall 1952

Ownership:
Narrator’s Photo

Caption
The view of North Korea from the friendly trenches in the winter of 1952. Note the rugged terrain, which was typical all along the Main Line of Resistance (MLR).

Where:
North Korea

When:

Ownership:
Narrator’s Photo

Caption
Heavy mortar Company Headquarters, October 1952.

Where:
Korea

When:
October 1952

Ownership:
Narrator’s Photo

Caption
Training a new man, Private Schlichting, on the use of a mortar sight in late 1952.

Where:
Korea

When:
1952

Ownership:
Narrator’s Photo

Caption
Sergeant Hall’s bunker near the front lines. Notice the stripped down condition of the trees.

Where:
Korea

When:
1952

Ownership:
Narrator’s Photo

Caption
Chow line, Thanksgiving 1952.

Where:
Korea

When:
Thanksgiving 1952

Ownership:
Narrator’s Photo

Caption
“Not worth the wait,” was Sergeant Hall’ critique of his Thanksgiving dinner in 1952.

Where:
Korea

When:
1952

Ownership:
Narrator’s Photo

Caption
Gen. VanFleet and President Eisenhower, December 1952.

Where:
Korea

When:
December 1952

Ownership:
Narrator’s Photo

Caption
A round goes down range from one of the platoon’s mortars during the spring of 1953. Notice the construction of the mortar pit.

Where:
Korea

When:
Spring 1953

Ownership:
Narrator’s Photo

Caption
Roy Lunik and Steve Hall. Lunik was from the unit’s Signal Company.

Where:
Korea

When:
1952-1953

Ownership:
Narrator’s Photo

Caption
Sergeant First Class Hall (a platoon sergeant) with one of his squad leaders as the two relax in a bunker.

Where:
Korea

When:
Circa 1952-53

Ownership:
Narrator’s Photo

Caption
Sergeant Hall relaxes on his bunk. The ‘tools of his trade’ are just an arm’s reach away.

Where:
Korea

When:
Circa 1952-53

Ownership:
Narrator’s Photo

Caption
An ammo bunker during the winter of 1952-53, with empty ammo cases stacked outside. Temperatures reached as low as fifteen below zero.

Where:
Korea

When:
Winter of 1952-1953

Ownership:
Narrator’s Photo

Caption
Sergeant Hall during the winter of 1952-53.

Where:
Korea

When:
Winter of 1952

Ownership:
Narrator’s Photo

Caption
Sergeant First Class Hall in the winter of 1952-53.

Where:
Korea

When:
Winter of 1952-1953

Ownership:
Narrator’s Photo

Caption
Hall, late winter, March 1953.

Where:
Korea

When:
Late winter, March 1953

Ownership:
Narrator’s Photo

Caption
The spring thaw of 1953 brought a new enemy for Hall’s unit – mud.

Where:
Korea

When:
Spring, 1953

Ownership:
Narrator’s Photo

Caption
The spring thaw of 1953 brought a new enemy for Hall’s unit – mud.

Where:
Korea

When:
Spring 1953

Ownership:
Narrator’s Photo

Caption
Sergeant First Class Hall had a rare opportunity to relax while behind the lines in the spring of 1953.

Where:
Korea

When:
Spring 1953

Ownership:
Narrator’s Photo

Steve Hall - Korean War

Interview Links

Photos

Social Links