World War II Honoree

John L. Ball

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Pateros, Washington

Honored By

John Wagner & LTC Charles Borg, USA-Ret.

JOINED THE ARMY MAY 20, 1942, IN TACOMA, WASHINGTON. TRAINED AS A COMBAT ENGINEER AND THEN JOINED COMPANY B, 1279TH COMBAT ENGINEER BATTALION. DEPLOYED TO SOUTHWEST PACIFIC IN OCTOBER 1942 AND JOINED BATTLES AGAINST THE JAPANESE IN NEW GUINEA CAMPAIGN. DURING THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS THE 1279TH SUPPORTED INFANTRY UNITS WITH THEIR HEAVY EQUIPMENT DOING DEMOLITIONS AND BUILDING FORTIFICATIONS, LANDING STRIPS, AND BRIDGES IN SOME OF THE MOST HOSTILE WEATHER AND TERRAIN IN THE PACIFIC. MANY TIMES HE WAS CALLED UPON TO FIGHT AS INFANTRY. NEXT MOVED INTO THE NORTHERN SOLOMON ISLANDS AND ENGAGED IN NUMEROUS BATTLES IN THE U.S. ADVANCE TO RECAPTURE THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. FINALLY REACHING THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS IN SUMMER 1944, HE FOUGHT IN THE LUZON CAMPAIGN AND HELPED LIBERATE MANILA, CORREGIDOR, AND BATAAN, WHICH HAD BEEN CAPTURED BY THE JAPANESE IN 1942. ENDING THE LUZON CAMPAIGN, HE SUPPORTED THE BUILDUP OF U.S. TROOPS STAGING FOR THE INVASION OF THE JAPANESE ISLANDS. JAPAN SURRENDERED IN AUGUST 1945 AND INVASION PLANS WERE CANCELLED. HE RETURNED TO THE STATES AND WAS DISCHARGED AT FORT LEWIS, WASHINGTON, ON SEPTEMBER 15, 1945, HOLDING THE RANK OF TECHNICIAN 5TH GRADE. HIS AWARDS AND DECORATIONS INCLUDE THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 3 BATTLE STARS FOR THE NEW GUINEA, NORTHERN SOLOMON ISLANDS, AND LUZON CAMPAIGNS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL WITH BRONZE STAR, AND 3 OVERSEAS BARS.