World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Dempsey Ballard
Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Kerrville, Texas
PILOT OF P-39 AND P-47 FIGHTERS. SERVED WITH THE 346TH FIGHTER SQUADRON, 350TH FIGHTER GROUP IN THE MEDITERRANEAN THEATRE. CREDITED WITH 108 MISSIONS. PRIMARY COMBAT ACTIVITY WAS DIVE BOMBING AND MACHINE GUNNING GROUND TARGETS IN ITALY. ALSO PARTICIPATED IN SOUTHERN FRANCE INVASION. CRASH LANDED BEHIND GERMAN LINES NEAR MONTE GALDO DE VINCENZA, ITALY ON DECEMBER 25, 1944. RESCUED BY HEROIC ITALIAN PARTISANS AND SHELTERED IN HOME OF PARTISAN LEADER, ROSINA DE MARZI UNTIL CAPTURED FEBRUARY 2, 1945. LIBERATED FROM GERMAN PRISONER OF WAR CAMP IN SOUTHERN GERMANY ON APRIL 29, 1945 BY 3RD ARMY TANKS.