Howard Hall '48

Howard Hall '48, is part of an interesting UGA legacy and a member of the Greatest Generation.

After completing his freshman year at North Georgia College in 1943, Hall enlisted in the Army Air Corps. He did his basic training in Mississippi and pre-flight school in Texas. He received his wings as a 19-year-old 2nd Lt. in Altus, OK.

He was assigned to a B-24 heavy bomber crew and was stationed in Lincoln, NE and Topeka, KS before being sent overseas to the American Air Base in Cerignola, Italy.

From there, the crew flew bombing missions to four countries. These bombings preceded the American troops advance into Germany. He was discharged from active service on May 8, 1945 after the war was over in Europe, but stayed in the Air Force Reserves.

He occasionally attends the annual meeting of the 459th Bomb group, part of the 15th Air Force. His crew members had a reunion of their own in 1996 and he enjoyed seeing men with whom he had served that he had not seen in 51 years. The crew has met several times since.

Following his active duty, Hall attended the University of Georgia in 1945 where he met the late Sarah Elizabeth (Betty) Willoughby of Eatonton, GA. They courted two years and married during their senior year. Betty taught school and their daughter, Haley, did graduate work in Art History at UGA.

Their grandson, Mark Blanchard '88, was a member of the Red Coat Band. He later finished medical college and presently resides in Moultrie, GA.

Hall's brother Jack '48 graduated from the UGA School of Forestry, and their sister did graduate work at Georgia.