Funeral Services for Eugene Hall, 88, Clinton resident, will be held 2:00 P.M., Saturday, November 14, 2020 in the Church of Christ, officiated by Patrick Peters and Pastor Bobby Stewart. Burial will follow in the Butler Cemetery with military honors and under the direction of the Kiesau-Lee Funeral Home.
Marion Eugene Hall was born April 23, 1932 in Butler, Oklahoma to Robert I. and Gladys (Cravens) Hall and passed away Monday, November 9, 2020 in the Oklahoma Heart Hospital South in Oklahoma City, OK, with wife, Reta, by his side.
Eugene as he was referred to by family and friends grew up in Butler and Clinton. He attended his first grade of school at Pie Flat School then he transferred to Butler Elementary School. He moved to Clinton at the age of 12 with his family. He began his first job delivering the morning and evening Oklahoma City Newspaper. As he grew older and was a teenager he worked for his Uncle Lee Creach as a Gas Station Attendant.
On April 23, 1949, his 17th birthday, he joined the Oklahoma National Guard, HQ. Co.1st BN 179t INF Div. They were called to duty in September 1950 to 1952 serving at Ft. Polk, LA, Japan and Korea. He came home to Clinton and finished His High School on the GI Bill. He rejoined the National Guard in 1954 and then transferred to regular Army on January 1, 1955. 1955 to 1957 he served in the INF at Ft. Chaffee, AR, Ft. Benjamin Harrison, IN, Eielson Air Force Base, AK and Ft. Lewis, WA. At that time he went to the 9th Combat ENG serving for three years in Germany from 1957 till 1959 and Ft. Leonard Wood, MO. In 1960 he went Airborne in the 307th ENGR. BN 82 ABN Div. Ft. Brag, NC and in 1961 he served in the 7th Group in Laos. He was reported Missing in Action (MIA) on January 18, 1961 serving on White Star and Ft. Brag NC; the first Group in Vietnam, Okinawa, Korea, Thailand and Taiwan: The 8th Group in the Panama: the 5th Group in Vietnam and was wounded on May 14, 1970. Eugene’s last overseas assignment was MAG China, Taipei, Taiwan. He returned to Ft. Brag, NC and served one year as Operations Sgt. HHC 20th ENGR BDG and Retired from the United States Army on August 31, 1975.
While in the military he served in Combat for six months in Korea in 1951/1952 and six months in Vietnam 1963/64, one months in 1965 and one year in 1971. He went on Expeditionary Missions in Lebanon for three months in 1958; Laos for six months in 1961/1962; Korea one year in 1965 and Thailand for six months in 1971.
He has received the Bronze Star, 2nd Award, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Award and Joint Service Commendation. He has also received Combat Infantry, 2nd award; Master Parachute with 106 jumps and Scuba; His Foreign Jump Wings included South Korea, South Vietnam, Thailand and Taiwan.
After retirement he worked for the Vinnell Company in Saudi Arabia for 3 and ½ years, training the King’s National Guard. When he returned home he took some time off, traveled and looked up some of his Army Buddies. He worked a short time for an oil Field Service Company before returning home. He then began a career with Public Service Company of Oklahoma in 1981 and retired there with 15 years of service in 1989.
After 54 years of bachelorhood, he met Reta (Selby) Hardy and they were married on April 26, 1986 at the Ft. Sill Main Post Chapel by the Chief of Chaplains, Lt. Col. David White.
Eugene was a longtime and faithful member of the Church of Christ; he loved God and Country and when he joined anything, it was for life. He always lived by the Motto: “Veterans Serving Veterans”. He volunteered at the Clinton Veterans Center for many years and helped numerous veterans over the years. He was a Life Member of the Special Operations Association; Special Forces Association; First Special Service Force Association; Military Order of the Purple Heart Association; Association of the United States Amy; 82nd Airborne Division Association; Combat Infantrymen’s Association; 45th Infantry Division Association; 179 Infantry Regiment Association; The Disabled American Veterans, The Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion.
Eugene is a 32nd Degree Mason and Life Member in Clinton Lodge #339., Weatherford Lodge, #138, Cordell Lodge #127; The Scottish Rite and India, Shriners International.
He is also a member of the National Rifle Association; The Whittington Center Gun Club; The Association of Mature American Citizens and The Republican National Committee.
Eugene along with wife, Reta loved going to conventions and visiting with friends from around the world and working together in all the Veterans Organizations.
He is preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Evelyn Baumwart and Francis Hall.
He is survived by his wife, Reta, of the home, step children, Billy McCoy, Clinton, OK; Raylene (McCoy) Ray and husband Tony, Foss, OK and Gena (Hardy) Cornell and husband Bryan, Clinton, OK.
He is also survived by 13 grandchildren, Travis, Whitney, Katy, Justin, Logan, Lexi, Landon, Jacob, Maci, Will, Jordan, Jessica and Jackson; 10 great-grandchildren; Travis, Jr., Isaac, Courtney, Micah, Elisha, Jordyn, Reece, Colin, Addler and Klara and one great-great-grandson, Maverick; two nephews, Donald Baumwart and wife, Bobbie and Gary Baumwart and wife, Vickie and niece, Alice (Baumwart) Cannon and their families.