VIRTUAL MEMORIAL HALL

ENS DONALD W. HALL, USN

Class 1945
Born June 13, 1923
Died May 4, 1945
Age 21
Hometown Annapolis, Maryland

Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1945 Lucky Bag:

Lucky Bag Portrait

Donald Willard Hall

Battalion Boxing 4; Track 4, '45; Varsity Soccer 4, 3, 1, a45f, NA, N*; Battalion Lacrosse 3; Spanish Club, Vice Chairman, 3, 1; Stars 4, 3.

After being thwarted in his efforts to become a lawyer, musician, radio technician, and National Guardsman, Don turned to the sea and journeyed the two blocks from his home to the Naval Academy. He brought a sincere desire to learn and a natural ability to box. With these assets he gained a pair of stars and a broken nose. To date, his greatest claim to fame are his drill shoes. Wine, women and song are a strong attraction for “Punchy,” and, when you meet him in the Fleet, you’ll know him to be the little man stepping ashore in the lead of the first liberty party.
The a45f is not a transcription error; unclear what it indicates. The Class of 1945 was graduated in June 1944 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.

Loss

Don was among 152 officers and crew lost when USS Morrison (DD 560) was sunk by a kamikaze attack on May 4, 1945. The ship was struck by four aircraft and sank within 15 minutes.

Other

Fascinating stories of the ship’s World War II service and final moments are posted here.

From researcher Kathy Franz:

His father Daniel was a retired musician from the Naval Academy in the 1940 census. Donald was 16, mother Anne (died 1997), sisters Mae and Marguerite. Anne is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Can’t find his father. They lived in 1940 at 18 Munroe Court.

Charles McBride ‘45, John Beahan ‘45, John Lusby ‘45, and Joseph Bolger, Jr. ‘45 were also in 14th Company.

Class of 1945

Donald is one of 58 members of the Class of 1945 on Virtual Memorial Hall.

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1945 US Navy KIA WWII Ship Kamikaze USS Morrison (DD 560) USNA 14th Company