134th Infantry Regiment Website
"All Hell Can't Stop Us"
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134th Infantry Regiment Website"All Hell Can't Stop Us" |
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S/Sgt Thaine J Hale, son of Russell James and Anita Fay (Farthing) Hale, was born in Nebraska December 20, 1919. He was a member of the Nebraska National Guard, was inducted into the Army on December 23, 1940, and served in the Second Platoon, Company A. He landed on Omaha Beach, Normandy, France July 5, was wounded in action during the battle for St Lo July 15 and returned to duty on August 31, 1944. He was Killed in Action near Agincourt, France on September 20, 1944. S/Sgt Thaine J Hale is buried at Lorraine American Military Cemetery, St. Avold, France, Plot B, Row 12, Grave 3. He is memorialized on the 35th Infantry Division Memorial at Agincourt, France.
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Silver Star Medal (posthumous) Citation |
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Staff Sergeant Thaine J. Hale, 20721516, Infantry, United States Army, for gallantry in action in the vicinity of Agincourt, France, on 18 September 1944. Sergeant Hale was one of a group of eighty soldiers of the First Battalion, 134th Infantry, encircled by enemy forces within the town of Agincourt and forced to take refuge, along with twenty prisoners they had captured, in barns. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Sergeant Hale, a platoon guide, voluntarily and alone, made his way through enemy lines, met an American tank, and riding on the outside, directed the crew to the vicinity of the trapped force. Fire from this tank dispersed the enemy and provided covering fire which enabled the eighty soldiers to rejoin their units with their prisoners. Sergeant Hale was killed by fire from an enemy tank during the withdrawal from the area. His gallant actions, initiative, and utter disregard for personal safety enabled a large group of his comrades-in-arms to extricate themselves from a precarious position. Entered military service from Nebraska. General Orders No. 42, Headquarters 35th Infantry Division, 9 October 1944 |
Thanks to Nancy Skrocki for this photo, used by permission of Russell S. Hale.
