The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Cecil L. Hall (MCSN: 523763), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving with the Second Amphibian Tractor Battalion, SECOND Marine Division during action against enemy Japanese forces at Tarawa, Gilbert Islands from 20 November to 3 December 1943. As a crew member of an amphibian tractor landing on the heavily fortified beachhead with the initial assault wave on D-Day, Private First Class Hall fearlessly exposed himself to the enemy’s incessant barrages to make repeated trips to and from the beach to deliver necessary replacements, ammunition and supplies. With his vehicle partially disabled by hostile shell fire during the afternoon of the first day of action he skillfully and efficiently affected repairs in the field, and then valiantly continued transporting him vital cargo to front line areas throughout. Private First Class Hall contributed materially to the success of our forces in capturing his vital hostile stronghold and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Services.