forces engaged in the Sicilian Occupation (9–12 July 1943) and the bitterly contested landings at Salerno (9–21 September 1943). These bold achievements brought him two awards of the Legion of Merit. In November 1943, he took command of the 11th Amphibious Force in the United Kingdom, earning the Army's Distinguished Service Medal for his leadership of amphibious Force "O" which landed and effectively supported the Army V Corps on the Omaha Beach sector off the coast of Normandy in June 1944. He received a second Navy Distinguished Service Medal for command of the Southern Attack Force (Task Force 55) during the Okinawa campaign. In October 1945, he became commander of Amphibious Force, United States Pacific Fleet, receiving the rank of vice admiral a few months later. Postwar After the war he was commandant of the Fourteenth Naval District and, in 1948, commandant of the Armed Forces Staff College at Norfolk, Virginia. From August 1951 until his retirement in May 1953, he was commander of Western Sea Frontier, with additional duty as commander of Pacific Reserve Fleet. On leaving active duty, he was advanced to the rank of full admiral on the basis of his combat awards. General of the Army Dwight Eisenhower, the Allied Supreme Commander of all Allied forces on the Western Front during World War II, gave Hall the nickname "Viking of Assault". General George Patton, who was often a tough critic of fellow military leaders, heaped high praise on him. Admiral Hall died on 6 March 1978 at the age of 86. The papers of Admiral Hall can be found in the Special Collections Research Center at the College of William & Mary. Namesakes The guided-missile frigate (launched 1981) was named in his honor. References 1891 births 1978 deaths College of William & Mary alumni United States Naval Academy alumni United States Navy admirals Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army) Recipients of the Legion of Merit United States Navy World War II admirals People from Williamsburg, Virginia Recipients of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal Burials at Arlington National Cemetery Military personnel from Virginia