The Coral Gables Times

For Herman, the Hell of War Is Never Over

By JOE C. MORRIS Correspondent One day in 1945 near the Ludendorff Bridge, which stretches across the Rhine at Remagen, Germany, Capt. Herman Hall, a heavy weapons commander, carefully scanned the river bank through his binoculars. Picking up his field telephone he gave an order. Immediately, machine gun bullets ripped the air—over his head searching for the enemy he had spotted. It was his last command. Shortly, the Germans dropped an 88mm shell, three yards from his position, and literally blew him out of the foxhole, and in a sense, all the way back to the United States. Captain Hall (ret.) has been in various hospitals 91 times in the 16 years since his return, has had 15 major operations and presently is in Veterans Hospital in Coral Gables awaiting results of tests that may turn up another illness. He survived spinal meningitis a few years ago but suffers now from diabetes, cirrhosis of the liver, chronic relapsing pancreatitis, peptic ulcers, boils and ostemolitis. His mother, a calm, kindly woman, who visits him daily said, "Why Herman has the will to continue living is a mystery to his doctors, his family and his friends. We just don't know what keeps him going." The mystery, according to Mrs. Hall, somehow relates to his youth. "He was a champion then," she said, "and champions never quit. "When Herman graduated, in 1941, from Riverside Military Academy, Hollywood, Fla., he was considered one of the most outstanding athletes Riverside ever produced," she explained. He still holds the record, among all Florida high schools, for the longest javelin throw — 191 feet. In 1950, this contest was dropped in the state. "He not only excelled in four major sports, including track, all through his varsity years," she beamed, "but in his senior year was elected captain of the baseball, basketball and football teams. "Baseball scouts from the Giants, Indians, Cardinals and the Phillies wanted him to turn professional," she said with pride, "but Herman chose a scholarship offered by Duke University. He wanted to continue his studies." Hall's choice however, was changed by World War II. Instead of becoming a star in the world of sports he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Army. When discharged, with the rank of captain in 1945, he had been wounded three times and had received the Silver Star, Bronze Star and Presidential citation, in addition to three Purple Hearts. Last Sunday afternoon, we were talking together in his hospital room. "I have two metal plates in my head," he said, "and when my head isn't hurting the shrapnel wounds in my stomach do. "The pains have been almost constant for 15 years and I've taken a drug (demerol) for so long that narcotic addiction is as much of a problem as my wounds." After surgery, according to one of Herman's physicians, Dr. Frank Baumeister, the average post-operative case requires up to two-tenths gram of painkilling dope. Herman takes one full gram daily. The future doesn't look too bright for the once typical, "All American Boy." Diseases are compounding diseases as fast as cures can be effected. Yet Herman Hall, age 42 made the remark, "War and drug addiction are hell on earth. And I've suffered hell for a long, long time. But I still have the will to live." And his mother, standing close behind him, said softly, "Thank God."

THE Coral Gables TIMES

THE CITY BEAUTIFUL Vol. 36, No. 33 28 Pages Thursday, September 28, 1961 Phone HI 3-1661 Price 10c

Inside for You

Beginning on page 9 of today's Times, is a special section devoted to the University of Miami. In the section you'll find stories and pictures about an institution that's growing in numbers and reputation.

Tax-Exempt Property Total: $71 Million or 11 Pct. Here | Amount Not Out of Line, Blount Says

By MAURICE LABELLE Times Reporter No one knows the exact worth of all the real estate in Coral Gables. Tax Assessor T. C. (Tommy) Blount estimates it at around $500 million. Add another $60 million or so for personal property and $71 million plus in exempted property and you have a whopping but conservative figure—$631 million. It is part of the last category which has been the subject of controversy in the past several months. More than 400 pieces of property are not, for one reason or another, taxed by either the City or the County. The County normally exempts all properties exempted by the City. The largest single exemption is the University of Miami which has property conservatively figured at $25.9 million. Coral Gables itself owns (See Property, page 3)

Take Back Fee Raise, They Plead

Opposition to the newly raised occupational license fees came from another source last week — the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce. In a letter to the Commission Friday, President W. Hamilton Hayes protested the action in raising fees in 18 categories and asked that the action be rescinded. Chamber members also asked for a meeting with the Commission. Commissioners have met with the Coral Gables Board of Realtors to hear its objections to the hikes and have also received complaints from garbage and trash collectors and others.

WHEN ROAD work closed off the two feeder streets to City National Bank (Sevilla and Almeria), the bank came up with a postscript to the "Dead End" construction notice. It advertised itself and added its business neighbors free of charge. That's Charles Battisti, 9, 810 Palermo St., inspecting matters. The Times Office is at 364 Sevilla Ave.

2 Large Thefts Solved; Pair Are Canadians

A coin collection and $2,000 government bonds, stolen from two Gables homes, turned up in the possession of two Canadians sentenced to 10 days for vagrancy in Hollywood. The two men, George J. Lanthier, 42, and Joseph E. Lanthier, 27, cousins from Ontario, Canada, admitted several breaks in the Miami area, including three in Coral Gables. Capt. E. H. McGough said Wednesday that the coins were stolen from the home of James Brown, 1128 Almeria Ave. and the bonds from Alvin Vaughan, 801 Valencia Ave. The men are to be returned here to face charges, McGough said.

You Can Park Cheaper on Oct. 1

Parking fees in the new attendant parking lot on Andalusia Avenue were reduced Tuesday by the City Commission. The Commission, after hearing reports on increased income but decreased use of the lot, decided to change the fees to 10 cents for the first two hours and five cents for every hour thereafter. The present fee, which goes out Oct. 1, is 15 cents for the first hour and 10 cents for each additional hour. At the same time, the City Commission ordered bigger and better signs to point out and explain use of the lot. And City Manager L. W. Robinson Jr. has ordered pamphlets to explain the operation. The lot, formerly metered, was converted approximately 30 days ago to attendant-operated. Users obtain a ticket as they enter and pay the attendant on the way out for time used. Merchants have been participating in the plan by issuing stamps to their customers which pay for the first hour's parking.

You're Invited

The public is invited Sunday afternoon to a concert-organ recital teaming the University of Miami Singing Hurricanes and Betty Lee Taylor. Time is 3 to 5 p.m. The place is 226-228 Almeria Ave. Ed Crowley is arranging the affair, which is free.

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Professional packers and wrappers for shopping or mailing. "The Barefoot Mailman", 234 Valencia Ave., C. Gables. —Adv.

WANTED

Real Estate Salespeople to staff new South Miami-Coral Gables office. Walter M. Freeman, Realtor FR 4-5111—Adv.

Larry Larimore, Realtor, Coral Gables' only accredited property management organization 150 Andalusia HI 8-1563 -Adv.

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