Howard Leslie Ballard

Corporal, U. S. Marine Corps

Silver Star

GENERAL ORDERS:
Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force Pacific: Serial 00498-45 (February 13, 1945)
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Howard L. Ballard (MCSN: 347606), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as Leader of a Fire Group of Company A, First Battalion, Ninth Marines, THIRD Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Guam, Marianas Islands, 31 July 1944.
When a member of his fire group was severely wounded while engaged in covering the advance of his platoon, Corporal Ballard voluntarily moved forward under intense machine gun fire from a Japanese tank and from Japanese infantry forces and, firing an automatic rifle to cover his advance, approached to within a few yards of the wounded man.
Although seriously wounded just before he reached the casualty, he had inspired the other members of his platoon to intensify their attack, thereby contributing to their success in killing fifteen Japanese infantrymen and destroying two Japanese tanks in this action. Corporal Ballard's initiative and cool courage under fire reflect great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.