James Norman Hall (1887 - 1951) american pilot, a humble adventurer, author and poet.....

Born in Colfax, Iowa.  He meet his favorite author Joseph Conrad in Scotland, joined Lord Kitchener's Volunteer forces as a Canadian. His first book was named Kitchener's Mob:The Adventures of an American in Kitchener's Army. He wrote several articles for the Boston Globe.

Sent to France to write about American Pursuit Squadron in the French Air Service. Insteed of writing about it - he joined up and was later awarded the Croix de Guerre with five palms and Médaille Militaire. As an  American officer, he received the Légion d’Honneur. Hall continued to write adventure books during his lifetime.

During World War I, Hall was made a Captain in the U.S. Air Force, later awarded for his service by General Pershing, the Distinguished Service Cross.

In 1919 he joined forces with Charles Nordhoff, to write the History of the Escadrille Lafayette and the Lafayette Flying Corps, a year later they went to Tahiti.  Arue, Tahiti - Hall's home until his death in 1951.  Hall and Nordhoff wrote in 1932 the Mutiny on the Bounty. Not until after his death did the people of Tahiti learn about his past as a war hero, his awards and decorations had been stored in a trunk. "Silence will Speak" -  A great man not to be forgotten...