World War II Honoree

John Andrew Ballard

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Toledo, Ohio

Honored By

John Ballard

Relationship

Son

HE WAS ONE OF THE NAVY'S FIRST PIONEER SALVAGE DIVERS. HE WAS ALSO INVOLVED IN THE AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT ON ANZIO WHERE HIS SHIP, THE USS EDENSHAW YTB-752 WAS BOMBED BY A STUKA DIVE BOMBER AND WAS SUNK NEAR SHORE. THE SURVIVING CREW SWAM TO SHORE AND JOINED UP WITH THE MARINE FORCES ON THE BEACH WHERE HE LATER STATED TO HIS FAMILY, 'I'D RATHER BE A SAILOR THAN A MARINE ANY DAY!' AFTER TWO WEEKS WITH THE MARINE CORPS ON SHORE HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE USS SENECA ATF-91. HE WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED ON MARCH 2, 1946. HIS MOST USED QUOTE WAS 'I AM WHAT I AM!'