World War II Honoree

John L. Ballantyne

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

El Paso, Texas

Honored By

LTG John Ballantyne III, USA (Ret)

Relationship

Son

COMBAT VETERAN OF BOTH WORLD WAR I AND WORLD WAR II. ENLISTED SERVICE WITH 29TH AND 6TH INFANTRY DIVISIONS, FRANCE AND BELGIUM IN WORLD WAR I. IN WORLD WAR II, SERVED UNDER GENERAL MACARTHUR WITH ADVANCE STAFF OF SUPREME ALLIED HEADQUARTERS, SOUTHWEST PACIFIC; SERVICE IN LEYTE AND LINGAYEN INVASIONS, LANDINGS AT NEW GUINEA, PHILIPPINES AND LIBERATION OF SANTO THOMAS AND MANILA PRISONERS OF WAR. HIS SERVICE WITH GENERAL MACARTHUR'S ADVANCE STAFF INCLUDED COMBAT OPERATIONS IN THE ADMIRALTY ISLANDS, PORT MORSBY, GOOD ENOUGH ISLANDS, ORO BAY, LEA, BIAK, HOLLANDIA NOEMFOOR ISLAND, TACLOBAN, MANILA AND OKINAWA. PARTICIPATED IN FINAL VERIFICATIONS OF INITIAL JAPANESE SURRENDER STIPULATIONS AT ATSUGI AIR STRIP, YOKOHAMA AND TOKYO.