Donald E. Ballard

Allegiance
United States of America



Service/branch
United States NavyKansas National Guard



Unit
3rd Marine Division



Battles/wars
Vietnam War



Rank
Colonel
Awards
- Medal of Honor







Donald E. Ballard (born December 5, 1945) is an American colonel in the Kansas National Guard and former member of the United States Navy, in which he was a Hospital Corpsman in the Vietnam War and was awarded the Medal of Honor.Ballard was born in Kansas City, Missouri and it was there that he enlisted in the United States Navy.While under fire, Ballard directed aid to other wounded US Marines and when a grenade landed nearby, he lay on top of it to protect the wounded. The grenade failed to explode and Ballard was able to throw it away to explode harmlessly, and then continue to treat the wounded. For his actions, he received the United States of America's highest award, the Medal of Honor. In 1970, Ballard received his medal from President Richard M. Nixon and General Westmoreland. On April 5, 1998, Ballard was promoted to colonel by Major General James F. Krueger and currently serves as Special Assistant to the Adjutant General. Ballard is one of only three Medal of Honor recipients currently on active service in the United States and the only Kansas Guardsman to have received the award.


This person was going to give up his life to help another person survived. This person was thank by receiving the medal of honor. This person had a lot of honor and courage to do what he did! My respect for this great person or better terms a hero.


This person was in the military service. When he was fixing the wounds of one of the soldiers a grenade landed were he was, so he threw himself to the grenade but it fell to explode so he threw away from his area. I thank this courageous soldier for his great deed he has done for this great nation. I wish that there would be a great ceremony to celebrate this courageous soldiers. Thank You.