John Henry Balch was born on 2 January 1896 in Edgerton, Kansas. He attended pre-medical schooling at Kansas State University before enlisting in the U.S. Navy from Missouri in May 1917. During World War I, Balch was a Pharmacist's Mate First Class and served with the U.S. Marine Corps in the Third Battalion, Sixth Marine Regiment. On 19 July 1918, during a fierce battle at Vierzy, France, he voluntarily left his dressing station for 16 hours and exposed himself to enemy fire and explosives while attending to the wounded. On 5 October 1918, at Somme-Py, France, he bravely set up an advanced dressing station while under fire. For his "gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life" on both of these occasions, he was awarded the Medal of Honor.

In August 1919, Pharmacist's Mate First Class Balch was honorably discharged and in September received his Medal of Honor by Rear Admiral Frederick B. Bassett at the YMCA in Chicago, Illinois. During World War II, he was commissioned as a Lieutenant in September 1942 in the U.S. Naval Reserves, serving in Australia and the Philippines. In June 1950, he was promoted to Commander. During 1956, he left the Naval Reserves. John H. Balch died on 15 October 1980 and is buried at Riverside National Cemetery, Riverside, California.

This page features all the images we have concerning John H. Balch.

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Photo #: NH 79437 Commander John H. Balch, USNR Photographed circa 1950. In 1918, he was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism in action at Vierzy, France on 19 July 1918 and at Somme-Py, France on 5 October 1918. He served with the Third Battalion, Sixth Regiment Marines. NHHC Collection Online Image: 77KB; 625 x 765
Photo #: NH 80570 Corpsman John H. Balch, USN Pictured visiting Washington, D.C. in June 1917 while awaiting shipment overseas. Collection of Commander John H. Balch, USN, (Retired). NHHC Collection Online Image: 91KB; 740 x 520
Photo #: NH 80571 Corpsman John H. Balch, USN Pictured visiting Washington, D.C. in June 1917 while awaiting shipment overseas. The other man is not identified. Collection of Commander John H. Balch, USN, (Retired). NHHC Collection Online Image: 46KB; 465 x 7650
Photo #: NH 80566 Pharmacist's Mate First Class John H. Balch, USN Photographed in France, May 1919, while awaiting shipment home from Saint Nazaire. He is wearing an Army uniform (2nd Division, "Indianhead"), with Marine Corps insignia. He received the Medal of Honor for heroism. Collection of Commander John H. Balch, USN, (Retired). NHHC Collection Online Image: 42KB; 450 x 765
Photo #: NH 80567 Pharmacist's Mate First Class John H. Balch, USN Photograph taken in May 1919. This photograph is a cropped version of NH 80566. Collection of Commander John H. Balch, USN, (Retired). NHHC Collection Online Image: 63KB; 575 x 765
Photo #: NH 80568 Pharmacist's Mate First Class John H. Balch, USN Receives the Medal of Honor from Rear Admiral Frederick B. Bassett, USN, at the YMCA at Chicago, Illinois in September 1919. He is wearing an Army uniform of the "Indianhead" Division. Collection of Commander John H. Balch, USN, (Retired). NHHC Collection Online Image: 53KB; 545 x 765
Photo #: NH 80569 Pharmacist's Mate First Class John H. Balch, USN Friends admire his Medal of Honor just after it was presented to him at the YMCA in Chicago, Illinois in September 1919. Collection of Commander John H. Balch, USN, (Retired). NHHC Collection Online Image: 61KB; 740 x 570
Photo #: NH 104884 John H. Balch Halftone reproduction of a photograph, published in "1974, Navy Birthday, 13 October - A Proud Tradition", page 34, by the Chief of Naval Operations, United States Navy, 1974. The book was done as a planning book for Commanding Officers for celebrations and publicity. He received the Medal of Honor during World War I for his bravery assisting wounded U.S. Marines in battle on 8 July and 5 October 1918. Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, D.C. NHHC Collection Online Image: 63KB; 590 x 765

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