than he who lays down his life for his friends.
May 16, 1968 Navy Corpsman Earns the Medal of Honor.
38 years ago today, Donald E. Ballard, a US Navy Hospital Corpsman Second Class, earned the Medal of Honor for action in Quang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam.
Don Ballard, from Kansas City, Missouri, was a 23 year old corpsman attached to M company, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division. Corpsman are the naval equivalent of US Army combat medics. They are medically trained sailors who are assigned to Marine combat units in the field.
On this day in 1968 while on patrol with his Marine unit, he had just finished coordinating the medical evacuation of two Marines with heatstroke when his unit was surprised by a Viet Cong ambush. Immediately racing to the aid of a casualty, Ballard applied a field dressing and was directing four Marines in the removal of the wounded man when a VC soldier tossed a grenade into the group. Ballard shot and killed the soldier but not before he had tossed a grenade at the group.
With a warning shout of, "Grenade!" Ballard vaulted over the stretcher and pulled the grenade under his body. After what Ballard later described as "an eternity," the grenade did detonate.
After the grenade failed to exolode, Ballard hurled it away and witnesses reported it exploded in mid-air harming no one. Ballard then shrugged it off and continued selflessly treating wounded Marines amid a deadly crossfire se-up by the attacking Victor Charlie.
Ballard received the Medal of Honor for his selfless act of courage. Ballard was only the second man whose valor was rewarded despite the fact that the deadly missile did not actually explode. Afterall, he courageously faced certain death and didn't know it wouldn't explode when he tucked it under his belly in an attempt to protect his patient and Marine comrades.
Ballard was wounded three times in Vietnam during 1968. In the first two incidents, he returned to duty with his unit, but after the third, he was evacuated to Okinawa. After two months, he returned to the US to work at the Naval Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, and was released to inactive duty in the Naval Reserve. Ballard received the Medal of Honor from President Richard M. Nixon at the White House on May 14, 1970.
Upon leaving the Navy, Ballard returned to Kansas City where he was employed by the Kansas City Fire Department, serving for 30 years and retiring as a captain, EMT-Paramedic in 1999. He still lives in Kansas City.
Official citation accompanying the award of the Medal of Honor to Donald E. Ballard:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life and beyond the call of duty while serving as a HM2 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 3rd Battalion in Quang Tri Province. After treating and evacuating 2 heat casualties, HM2 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 casualties. Observing a wounded marine, HM2 Ballard unhesitatingly moved across the fireswept terrain to the injured man and swiftly rendered medical assistance to his comrade. HM2 Ballard then directed 4 marines to carry the casualty to a position of relative safety. As the 4 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, HM2 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. HM2 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.
Originally Posted by badger
