By By Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
An Army Airborne Ranger with Hartselle ties was killed in action in Afghanistan on June 1 when an improvised explosive device exploded next to his vehicle in the Nerkh district west of Kabul.
S/Sgt. Jeffrey Alan Hall, 28, of Huntsville was one of three U.S. soldiers killed in the explosion. His parents are Charles and Annette Hall, who recently moved into the Cedar Cove community southeast of Hartselle.
He and his wife, Allison, would have celebrated their second year of marriage on July 7. They have a daughter, Audrey Faith, one.
Sergeant Hall was on patrol with the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Battalion, and 10th Mountain Infantry Division out of Fort Drum, N.Y. when the vehicle he was in was hit by an IED. His unit is tasked with working in a partnership with the Afghan government to organize neighborhood watches.
Hall, a squad leader, attended Grace Lutheran School, Huntsville Christian Academy and Grissom High School. He joined the Army in August 2000 and had been based in New York since October 2005.
The decorations he earned during his nearly nine years of military service included two Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, two Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Glodal War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Ranger Tab, Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge and Senior Parachutist Badge.
The Army hero’s body arrived at Huntsville International Airport Sunday morning. Gathered to welcome its arrival were an estimated 200 family members, friends, military personnel and the Patriot Guard.
Funeral was at Laughlin Service Funeral Home in Huntsville Tuesday, June 8 at 11 a.m., followed by burial with full military honors at Maple Hill Cemetery.
A memorial fund has been established at Redstone Federal Credit Union to benefit Hall’s widow and child. Contributions may be made in the name of “SSG Jeffrey Alan Hall Memorial Fund” at any RFCU branch.