Throughout life, one Soldier has always led from the front

Photo By Staff Sgt. James Hunter | Foley, Ala., native, Sgt. William H. Hall, a team leader with the personal security...... read more read more

Photo By Staff Sgt. James Hunter | Foley, Ala., native, Sgt. William H. Hall, a team leader with the personal security detail, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), prepares for a mission, Feb. 20. Hall, a father of six and a former Marine, leads by example daily continuely mentoring, coaching and training his Soldiers.  see less | View Image Page

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

02.24.2008

Story by Staff Sgt. James Hunter 

2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (AA) Public Affairs

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By Sgt. James Hunter
2nd Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office, 101st Airborne Division, Multi-National Division-Baghdad

BAGHDAD – Non-commissioned officers in America's Army have always served as the vanguards by mentoring, coaching and training troops during peace time and war.

For 39-year-old Sgt. William Hall, he has always led from the front, and continues to set the example. Throughout his life, he has lived by the motto, "You lead by example."

"Sgt. Hall is the NCO that all (sergeants) and junior enlisted should strive to be," said Staff Sgt. Charlie Collier, a Lufkin, Texas, native, who serves as Hall's squad leader. "Always leading from the front and always setting the proper example; not the right example, the proper example."

Hall wants to ensure his Soldiers know if they come into a sticky situation while operating in northwest Baghdad, they can look at him and know he's going to make the right decision.

"Soldiers watch what you do," Hall said. "Anybody can demand respect but few people earn respect. If (Soldiers) truly respect you by you earning their respect, they'll follow you anywhere you've got to go."

Hall, a native of Foley, Ala., serves as a team leader on the personal security detail for Col. William Hickman, commander of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division. He describes his job as, "Exciting, demanding and rewarding."

Daily, the PSD element travels throughout the Strike battle space, escorting the commander as he meets with Soldiers, influential Iraqi leaders and Iraqi security forces.

"We go out every day. It's pretty demanding because we concentrate on the entire (area of operation), going everywhere in northwest Baghdad."

Hall said the key is learning the routes, through continued planning; however, at times he has to make key decisions on the spot.

"You've got to make sure you know where you are going because everybody is following you," he said. "Your main job is to get everybody where they need to be."

Though Hall has a responsibility to lead the convoy, he serves an even greater responsibility to his Soldiers. He hopes he can make an impact on their lives.

"You make sure they are good Soldiers; make sure they do what they are supposed to do, ensuring they stay alert," he said. "You have to make sure they are there everyday maintaining their arms and their equipment. The main objective is to complete the mission."

However, leading by example is nothing new to Hall who grew up in a small town along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. His town had a well-known football tradition. He was a part of that tradition since the age of eight.

In 1989, three years after graduating from high school, he joined the Marine Corps and served as an infantryman with the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines. He was a team leader and a squad leader.

Many members of his family served their nation, but none of them served as a Marine, so he decided to go against the grain.

"I always heard it was kind of hard," Hall said. "At that point in my life I needed something challenging."

As a Marine, Hall earned his Ranger tab and airborne wings. "I got to experience a little bit of the Army through the marine corps."

He worked himself to the rank of sergeant, until in 1995 when he decided to leave the Corps. He came down on orders to become a drill instructor, but his father was ailing from heart disease and he wanted to spend what time he had left with him.

In the meantime, Hall worked as a sod farmer and in the lumber business, but the passion for the military never left him.

"I was an operations manager in a lumber company for several years, made good money, but I had a desire to serve my country again, come to Iraq and be apart of history," he said. "I felt like I would have cheated my life if I didn't come over here and at least gave my effort in the battle against terrorism."

Since Sept. 11, 2001, Hall had wanted to re-join the ranks, but had a lot of commitments with family and jobs until one day when he said, "Hey, I don't want to miss out."

Hall rejoined the National Guard where he served with the 20th Special Forces Group. He went through the selection course, but even after completing the 21-day course, was not selected.

However, he didn't see this as a weakness, but more as a sign. He said he felt as if he still had the mental and physical capabilities to make it through, then why not go active duty?

"Sometimes in life you have to do something that makes you feel better inside," Hall said. "I was on my way to Desert Storm and it ended so I was like 'man I missed out.' I said, 'enough's enough.'"

Six weeks after leaving the National Guard, Hall was in Iraq.

"This is what it's all about. Everyone's got to do their time and do the right thing," he said with conviction. "Not too many people can say they came to Iraq and defended their country."

It was a sudden decision, but he always had his families support. Hall and his wife have six children with one currently on the way.

His wife had just graduated from nursing school, and still in the process of beginning her career, but he knew whatever he chose to do, his wife and children would back him up 100 percent.

They are continuously there for him, especially knowing when he calls home there is someone waiting to talk to him— somebody who cares about him and is concerned about his well-being, he said.

At the end of the day, when Hall finally gets the opportunity to kick his feet up and relax, he thinks about his wife and his unborn son, and how God has truly blessed him.

"He's let me do what I've always wanted to do," he said. "I've always had the desire to be in the military."