BROTHERHOOD REMEMBERED

picture provided by Capt. R. Richards.

Alfred Floyd Hall was born on March 2, 1950 and joined the Armed Forces while in New Castle, PA.

He served in the Army.

In 2 years of service, he attained the rank of SGT/E5.

On January 9, 1970, at the age of 19, Alfred Floyd Hall perished in the service of our country in South Vietnam, Quang Tri.

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REMEMBRANCES

From: "George Gersaba"
Date: Sun, 15 Sep 2002 19:07:53 -1000
I was sitting directly behind Al on the 2nd row, center of bleachers at C2. SS was sitting either next to him or one seat away and I would guess someone else from my track was there too. Al had the best seat in the house at front row, center. Anyway, I was talking intently to them because I was stoned out of my mind. We had smoked some dope just before going to the USO show. It was muddy and as always during the monsoons, a very light and intermittent rain was falling. There was a covered plywood stage to the front. We were very excited because the word was that we were going to see a rock n'roll show put on by G.I.'s.

Suddenly, Al turned and asked if I wanted to switch seats with him so I could talk more easily with my buddies. I said, "Sure," and made the switch. The musicians had arrived and were setting up. Sure enough, as advertised, these were G.I.'s dressed in jungle fatigues and not one of the typical civilian Filipino musical acts that usually did the USO shows up here on the DMZ.

A shot sounded real close. People dove for cover, as I did. None of us carried any weapons to the show. From my position on the ground, I looked behind me. Al was one of only two persons sitting upright. There was a white guy right behind him, holding an M16. My clouded, happy mind suddenly snapped clear. Wally tells me Al was screaming. I don't remember it. I looked at his face. His mouth was in a "O" shape and his eyes were wide open. The backs of his hands were up against the inside of his thighs, like they were pushing out. I didn't understand. I jumped up and grabbed Al, easing him down on the bench. I opened his shirt and did not see any wound. I flipped him over and checked his back. There was nothing there either, except for a tiny discoloration in the middle of his back. I didn't notice if his shirt had a hole in it. I was stunned. There was no blood and no entry or exit wound that I could see. A black guy, a medic, suddenly appeared and started to pound on Al's chest and administered mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. I was holding onto Al.

I could feel his life ebb away, until in a few seconds, he stopped breathing and moving. I put him down. I looked at the G.I. that shot him and hands pulled me away. Others hustled him away.20

Wally tells me that he was called as a witness some weeks later at the guy's trial.

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Date: Sun, 11 Aug 2002 12:51:18 EDT
Let me know if you find any information on Al Hall's family. I know he was from New Castle, Penn. but that is all I know. If you get any information on his Mother and Father please let me know. I have some pictures of Al and I would love to take them to His family. It's is something I have been wanting to do for many years but didn't know where to start. After seeing all you guys last year at the reunion it got me thinking about Al and his folks. If they still live in Penn. it would not be a long trip for me to make this fall sometime. Keep me posted if you can. Thanks much Brother.
Rag

last_name=handshoe first_name=john t.peewee comments_memories=iwas reading about alfred floyd hall.i remebred him getting shot.i was sitting about the 3rd or fourt row of seats behind him.i heard the shot and heard him.the loudest sream i ever did hear.iwatched the medics trying to save him.and i watched him die it was like watching a light slowly being dimmed that was my initation in to the horror of war.that incident changed me forever.i live with it,everyday.and still have nightmares about it.iwas allso good friends with micheal james le boeuf i heard the fifty caliber go off then i heard someone yell micheal Received from the message board on 8/08/2005

am attaching a photo of Al Hall and myself. When I first arrived in Viet Nam it was Al who first made friends with me and we were always very good friends up until the time of his death. I was there at the time Al was shot as I was almost everywhere Al went because we rode the same APC "In Cold Blood" together. I have never forgotten Al and this photo is framed and has always been in my office. I have told my kids, and my granddaughter about Hall. It was Al who keep me going and lifted my spirits over there when I needed it. Prior to his death he was writting to his girlfriend back home and spoke a lot about seeing her again. He also talked a lot about his Grandparents who took care of him. He was a great guy and it was a sad loss for me that day and the memory will live with me forever. In my album I have a lot of photos of all the great guys from the first platoon like Don Barnes, Big Daddy Trimble, Jim Ranaldi, Al, and many , many more. I look at the album and my mind races back to those days so long ago. I think we all kept one another going. We really were a "Band of Brothers"                                                                                   Best Regards,                                                                                  
Ron Baynes  69-70 1st Platoon