Rear Admiral Arthur G. Hall, USCG, was born October 19, 1896, in Washington, D.C. He attended Washington, D.C. schools, graduating from McKinley High School in 1916. After a year at Catholic University, Washington, D.C., he worked as an apprentice draftsman and a War Department clerk for two years until January 1918, when he was appointed cadet in the U.S. Coast Guard.
Graduating from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, New London, Conn., in 1920, he was assigned to the Cutter Seneca, based in New York. He soon qualified as a watch and division officer aboard that vessel and later the Tallapoosa, Mobile, Alabama, gaining proficiency particularly in navigation. From 1924 to 1927 he was executive officer and temporary commanding officer of the Cassin, New London, Conn., and from 1927 to 1930 he served as Navigation and Astronomy instructor at the Coast Guard Academy.
Between 1930 and 1938 he commanded successively the Cutters Saranac, Conyngham, Welborn C. Wood, Electra, and Comanche. During this period he participated in a number of rescue operations. He was commended by the Commander of the New York District for his skill in seamanship and navigation through fog and ice. In 1937, under Rear Admiral Hall's command, the Comanche broke an ice jam threatening to flood the upper Hudson Valley. Rear Admiral Hall also patrolled regattas and the intercollegiate rowing races at Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
Under Commander (now Rear Admiral, Ret.) Robert Donohue, Rear Admiral Hall served on the staff of the Coast Guard Training Station, Fort Trumbull, New London, from 1938 to 1940. He was transferred to command of the Cutter Alexander Hamilton, in 1940, in which capacity he served until early in 1942.
From April 1942 through September 1944, Rear Admiral Hall was executive officer of the Coast Guard Training Station, Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn, New York.
Rear Admiral Hall received a Commandant's letter of commendation for his performance of duty in this assignment, in which he was responsible for the successful coordination of the training, outfitting, health, and recreation activities of approximately 90,000 recruits and advanced trainees.
In September 1944, Rear Admiral Hall took command of the USS Cavalier, a Navy transport, serving in that capacity until August 1945. He took part in the invasion of the Philippines at Leyte October 20, 1944, and landings at Lingayen Gulf and Zombales, and reinforcement operations.
From August 1945, Rear Admiral Hall served as Chief of Staff of the 1st (Boston) Coast Guard District until January 1949, when he assumed command of the 7th Coast Guard District at Miami, Florida. In November 1949, he came to Coast Guard Headquarters, Washington, D.C., to serve as Chief, Office of Operations, until September 1950. At that time he began his assignment as Superintendent of the Coast Guard Academy from September 1950 to September 1, 1954, which is the date he retired.
Rear Admiral andMrs. Hall (the former Margaret Smith, daughter of Judge and Mrs. C.H. Smith of East Hartford, Conn.) have two sons.
After receiving a commission as Ensign on October 1, 1920 he subsequently was promoted in rank as follows: Lieutenant (jg), April 23, 1921; Lieutenant, January 11, 1924; Lieutenant Commander, October 1, 1928; Captain, June 18, 1942; and Rear Admiral, March 10, 1950.