John Garland Ballard

West Point, 1951

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Jose A. "Andy" Chacon on November 27, 2012:

John Garland Ballard, Jr. Born March 9, 1928 -- Died April 18, 2012 John Garland Ballard, Jr. was born in Amarillo, Texas on 9 March 1928 and was appointed to West Point from the 18th Congressional District. His West Point classmates recall: "John was a representative of the sovereign Republic of Texas at West Point and he brought to it, along with a way of doing well in almost everything, a profound distaste of attending Saturday Inspections. Possible he was second Izaak Walton, for the tall Texan could usually be found at Lake Popolopen when he was not upholding the West Point story on the fields of friendly strife." During his cadet days John went out for Football and Track all four years, earning a Monogram in the former sport and Numerals, Major "A", and Navy Star in the latter sport. He was also on the Duty Committee, a Chapel Usher, with the Fishing Club, and was a Cadet Lieutenant his first class year serving as Battalion Supply Officer. Upon graduation John went in the Air Force and after pilot training reported to the 43rd Troop Carrier Squadron in Japan flying to Korea during 1952 to 1953. On return to stateside John was assigned as Supply Liaison Officer at Stead AFB, Nevada where he served until 1955 when he received orders to Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson, Ohio and where he served until 1956. Next John went with SAGE of the Air Defense Command Systems and was stationed at Stewart AFB, New York as Coordination Officer where he served from 1956 to 1959. Then from 1959 to 1961 John served as Fleet Commander, Detachment 1, 4650th Combat Support Squadron also at Stewart AFB. In 1962 John earned a Master of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from Stanford University, California and on completion was assigned as Chief Quality Engineer with the Air Force Plant Representative at Lockheed Aircraft Corporation where he served until 1964. John was awarded the Air Commendation Medal for distinguished service on completion of this assignment. Next John received orders as Commander Detachment 1, 310th Air Commando Squadron Republic of Vietnam where he served until 1965. John was decorated with a second Air Commendation Medal for distinguished service, and nine Air Medals for meritorious achievement beyond that normally expected, while participating in aerial flight on completion of this tour. Then John was appointed Executive Officer of the Aircraft and Missile Test Directorate at Holloman AFB, New Mexico where he served until 1969. On completion of this duty John was awarded two more Air Commendation Medals for distinguished service. John's next assignment was as Commander Air Force Plant Representatives Office, United Technologies Corporation where he served from 1969 to 1971 and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for conspicuously meritorious performance of duty in a non-combat situation on completion of this tour. Next John attended the resident course at Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort Leslie McNair, Washington, DC and on graduation was assigned as Chief of the Construction Management Division, Division, United States Air Force and served from 1972 to 1976. John's last military assignment was to Headquarters, Air Force Contract Management Division, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico from where he retired in 1978 as a Colonel. John and his wife Ann made their home in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The May 1991 Assembly noted, "In 1990, John and Ann enjoyed a family reunion in Hawaii, Oahu and Maui. In August they joined Howie and Dotsy Steele and the WP alumni tour of Vienna, Budapest and a cruise on both the Danube and Rhine Rivers. The Ballards thoroughly enjoyed the companionship and cruise, on which the AOG also did a great job."

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