V. Richard Hale

V Richard Hale, Jr., age 86, of Decatur, Georgia passed away on Thursday, January 15, 2009.  Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at 11:00 am at A. S. Turner & Sons in Decatur.  A native of Plainfield, New Jersey, Mr. Hale was a Signalman First Class in the United States Navy, serving as a signalman and as a gunner's mate.  He was a Pearl Harbor survivor, serving on the USS Maryland along battleship row on the morning of December 7, 1941.  While the Maryland was undergoing repairs, Mr. Hale was transferred to the destroyer USS Laffey.  In October and November of 1942, his ship engaged enemy forces on three occasions before being sunk on the morning of November 13.  For their heroic actions, the crew of the Laffey earned the Presidential Unit Citation and Mr. Hale earned the Purple Heart for injuries suffered when his ship suffered a violent explosion which sent the Laffey to the bottom.  Mr. Hale is survived by his wife Carol; sons Rick Hale of Suwanee, and David Hale of Columbus, Mississippi; grandchildren Leah and Rick Hale of Suwanee and Sara Hale of Columbus, Mississippi.  The family will receive friends on Monday, January 19, 2009 from 6:00 - 8:00 pm at A. S. Turner & Sons in Decatur, 404-292-1551.