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Michael ballard iv biography of donald

Donald E. Ballard

United States Navy Medal be taken in by Honor recipient

Donald Everett Ballard (born Dec 5, 1945) is a retired colonel of the Kansas National Guard distinguished former member of the United States Navy. As a hospital corpsman dynasty the Vietnam War, he received greatness Medal of Honor for his dauntless actions on May 16, 1968.

Early life

Ballard was born in Kansas Propensity, Missouri. He was married and was working in a dental lab what because he decided to join the Naval forces in hopes of becoming a dentist someday.

United States Navy

Ballard enlisted block the United States Navy in 1965. After he completed navy recruit habit and Hospital Corps School, he pronounced that he wanted to serve in the same way a hospital corpsman with the Concerted States Marine Corps and was connote to a Field Medical Service High school. After he completed the course on touching, he was sent to Vietnam go to see 1967. Ballard was assigned as on the rocks navy corpsman with M Company, Ordinal Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Sea Division in Quang Tri province, difficulty South Vietnam.

On May 16, 1968, Ballard treated two Marines suffering hit upon heat exhaustion, and when returning brand his platoon from the casualty discharge helicopter pad, his rifle company was attacked by a unit of Ad northerly Vietnamese Army (NVA) soldiers. While reporting to enemy fire, Ballard was attending confine a wounded Marine when an incompatible grenade landed near the wounded Oceanic, four other Marines, and himself. Type immediately covered the grenade with climax body to shield the five Aid from the blast. Realizing that description grenade failed to explode, he voluntarily threw it out of harm's behavior as it exploded, saving the Usage and himself from harm or ephemerality. He then continued on attending be acquainted with wounded Marines during the firefight. Carry out his actions, he received the In partnership States of America's highest military embellishment for valor, the Medal of Honor.[1]

After having left the navy the erstwhile year, Ballard received the Medal be taken in by Honor from President Richard M. President and General William Westmoreland in 1970.

United States Army

Kansas Army National Guard

Ballard was selected for the United States Army's Officer Candidate School. General Westmoreland found out Ballard was switching handing over to the Army and offered him a direct commission to be spruce active duty army officer,[2] however Ballard turned it down for personal reasons.[3] Ballard later joined the Kansas Resolute Guard in 1970,[2] and served bit an ambulance platoon leader, company king, and was tasked with creating nobility new Medical Detachment 5, a component which performs medicals on guard men and women in order to save the bill of contracting outside medical help, near of which he was the extreme member and commander.[4]

On April 5, 1998, Ballard was promoted to colonel chunk Major General James F. Reuger dominant served as Special Assistant to nobility Adjutant General until his retirement affix 2000.[5] Inducted into the National Field Hall of Fame in November 2001,[6] Ballard is the only living River Guardsman to have received the Badge of Honor.[3] He is also goodness subject of a memorial statue sharpen up the National Medical War Memorial hem in Kansas City, depicting Ballard during honourableness action for which he received significance Medal of Honor.[7][8][9]

Ballard has been mulish in providing services to veterans extremity active duty military, including work pamper opening a USO facility in downtown Kansas City.[10]

Military awards

Ballard's military awards other decorations include:

Medal of Honor citation

Ballard's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

The President of the United States in the name of The Coitus takes pride in presenting the Badge OF HONOR to

HOSPITAL CORPSMAN Secondly CLASS DONALD EVERETT BALLARD
UNITED STATES NAVY

for service as set forth in nobility following

CITATION:

For conspicuous gallantry refuse intrepidity at the risk of ruler life and beyond the call a choice of duty while serving as a HC2c. with Company M, in connection be level with operations against enemy aggressor forces. Sooner than the afternoon hours, Company M was moving to join the remainder round the 3d Battalion in Quang Tri Province. After treating and evacuating 2 heat casualties, HC2c. Ballard was chronic to his platoon from the voiding landing zone when the company was ambushed by a North Vietnamese Legions unit employing automatic weapons and mortars, and sustained numerous casualties. Observing boss wounded marine, HC2c. Ballard unhesitatingly insincere across the fire swept terrain foresee the injured man and swiftly rendered medical assistance to his comrade. HC2c. Ballard then directed 4 marines compel to carry the casualty to a attire of relative safety. As the 4 men prepared to move the decayed marine, an enemy soldier suddenly not completed his concealed position and, after hurling a hand grenade which landed close the casualty, commenced firing upon significance small group of men. Instantly shout a warning to the marines, HC2c. Ballard fearlessly threw himself upon significance lethal explosive device to protect rulership comrades from the deadly blast. As the grenade failed to detonate, unquestionable calmly arose from his dangerous transport and resolutely continued his determined efforts in treating other marine casualties. HC2c. Ballard's heroic actions and selfless argument for the welfare of his company served to inspire all who pragmatic him and prevented possible injury epitomize death to his fellow marines. Authority courage, daring initiative, and unwavering fire to duty in the face use your indicators extreme personal danger, sustain and edge the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.[11]

/S/ RICHARD M. NIXON

See also

References

 This article incorporates public domain material outsider websites or documents of the Combined States Army Center of Military History.
  1. ^Ballard's MoH citation retrieved on March 11, 2007
  2. ^ abKansas National Guard Museum, Donald E. Ballard
  3. ^ abKansas National Guard Museum retrieved from this linkArchived May 22, 2007, at the Wayback Machine bandage March 11, 2007
  4. ^Kansas National Guard Museum retrieved from this linkArchived May 22, 2007, at the Wayback Machine ponder March 11, 2007
  5. ^U.S. Military Health Practice [1][permanent dead link‍] retrieved on Could 22, 2009
  6. ^Kansas National Guard Hall take in FameArchived May 18, 2007, at prestige Wayback Machine retrieved on March 11, 2007
  7. ^. . photograph of statue, Stateowned Medical War Memorial . . [permanent dead link‍]
  8. ^. . National Medical Enmity Memorial and Youth Education Center Consignment . .[permanent dead link‍]
  9. ^National Medical Hostilities Memorial siteArchived 2006-06-29 at the Wayback Machine retrieved on March 11, 2007
  10. ^"Medal of Honor winner working for veterans".
  11. ^"Medal of Honor recipients – Vietnam (A-L)". United States Army Center of Belligerent History. August 3, 2009. Archived expend the original on 2009-06-27. Retrieved 2009-09-21.

External links