Section Of Highway Named After War Hero

By Chris Howell and Nicole Wiseman, NewsOn6.com

SAND SPRINGS, OK -- A Sand Springs Vietnam War hero is honored. Family and friends gathered on Monday to pay tribute to U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Billie Hall and his selfless acts.

The bridge over State Highway 151 over the Lake Keystone dam has officially been named the SSG. Billie Hall Memorial Highway.

"Several months ago I asked Nancy Riley, ‘is there any way we could name something after Staff Sergeant Billie Hall?' And she said let me check into it. And this is the result today," said  "Scratch" Purser, American Legion Post 17.

Staff Sergeant Hall volunteered to serve a tour in Vietnam as a medic with the Green Berets.

In March of 1966, he lost both legs in an enemy attack, but instead of seeking help, he treated injured soldiers for four hours until he died.

"To me, he gave his life for his country and to help save the men in his outfit to get out of there and a lot of them are alive today because of it," said Janice Eyman Hall Billue, Staff Sergeant Hall's Widow.

Now the hope is that the bridge will act as a reminder of the men and women who have lost their lives while protecting our country.

"He gave his life that we can enjoy life to the fullest," said Purser.

After he died, Staff Sergeant Hall was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. Many in Sand Springs believe he deserves the Congressional Medal of Honor. Fellow veterans have been petitioning only to be told Hall is ineligible because he was a medic and didn't carry a gun. But, many are working to make that happen.

"This is a great day and we couldn't have a better name accompanying the Keystone Dam Bridge. It's one more check off in the box toward getting Staff Sergeant Hall his Congressional Medal of Honor," said State Sen. Nancy Riley.

"How proud I am today? My chest is heavy because Billie was one of those men who gave it all; that I can stand here and say I knew Billie Hall and that he gave his life that we can enjoy life to the fullest," said Purser. "So we should never forget that freedom is not free. A price has to be paid for freedom."

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