Donald E Ballard
Donald was born on the 5th of December 1945, in Kansas City, Missouri, and he played in the band at North Kansas City High School. After graduating, he went to work at a dental laboratory and wanted to attend college for dentistry, but couldn’t obtain financial aid. After his son and daughter were born with his wife, Donald decided to enlist in the US Navy and became a hospital corpsman. He worked at a naval hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, before being assigned to a Marine unit in North Carolina. When Donald deployed to the Republic of Vietnam, he was attached to 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, and it was his actions with Company M on the 16th of May 1968, that would later earn him the Medal of Honor. The citation reads:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a HC2c. with Company M, in connection with operations against enemy aggressor forces. During the afternoon hours, Company M was moving to join the remainder of the 3d Battalion in Quang Tri province. After treating and evacuating two heat casualies, HC2c. Ballard was returning to his platoon from the evacuation landing zone when the company was ambushed by a North Vietnamese Army unit employing automatic weapons and mortars, and sustained numerous casualies. Observing a wounded marine, HC2c. Ballard unhesitatingly moved across the fire-swept terrain to the injured man and swiftly rendered medical assistance to his comrade. HC2c. Ballard then directed four marines to carry the casualty to a position of relative safety. As the four men prepared to move the wounded marine, an enemy soldier suddenly left his concealed position and, after hurling a hand grenade which landed near the casualty, commenced firing upon the small group of men. Instantly shouting a warning to the marines, HC2c. Ballard fearlessly threw himself upon the lethal explosive device to protect his comrades from the deadly blast. When the grenade failed to detonate, he calmly arose from his dangerous position and resolutely continued his determined efforts in treating other marine casualties. HC2c. Ballard's heroic actions and selfless concern for the welfare of his companions served to inspire all who observed him and prevented possible injury or death to his fellow marines. His courage, daring initiative, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of extreme personal danger, sustain and enhance the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.
Donald was again wounded in later conflicts and evacuated to Okinawa. In September of 1968, he was sent back to the States and went to work at the Memphis naval hospital again. Donald then transferred from active duty to the Naval Reserve in February of 1970 and on the 14th of May 1970, his Navy Cross recommendation was upgraded to the Medal of Honor when he received it from President Nixon in a ceremony at the White House, along with ten others.
Later in the year, Donald transferred to the Kansas Army National Guard as an officer in the Medical Service Corps, where he would serve until his retirement as a Colonel in 2000, after thirty-five years of service. He was divorced from his first wife and remarried, having four more children, one of which, Adam, carried on the family military service and is serving in the Marine Corps. Donald Everett Ballard is 77 years old as of the time of this recording and still resides in Kansas, where he owns two funeral homes and cemeteries, offering low or no cost services to the families of veterans.
