John Henry Balch – Medal of Honor, World War I (1918)

Pharmacist's Mate First Class John Henry Balch was a sailor in the U.S. Navy who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on October 5, 1918 in Vierzy & Somme-Py, France during World War I. At the time he was serving with 6th Regiment, U.S. Marines. Balch was 22 years old.

One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on October 1919. Great Lakes Naval Station, presented by Adm. William A. Moffett. He later rose to the rank of Commander.

Balch was born on January 2, 1896 in Edgerton, Johnson County, Kansas. His Medal of Honor is credited to Kansas City, Clay County, Missouri. Balch died on October 15, 1980 in Sun City, California, at the age of 84. He is buried at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, California.

Balch is one of 132 Medal of Honor recipients from World War I and one of 78 credited to Missouri.

★ Medics & Corpsmen

Official Medal of Honor citation

For gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty, with the 6th Regiment, U.S. Marines, in action at Vierzy, on 19 July 1918. Balch unhesitatingly and fearlessly exposed himself to terrific machine-gun and high-explosive fire to succor the wounded as they fell in the attack, leaving his dressing station voluntarily and keeping up the work all day and late into the night unceasingly for 16 hours. Also in the action at Somme-Py on 5 October 1918, he exhibited exceptional bravery in establishing an advanced dressing station under heavy shellfire.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Other decorations and honors

Besides the Medal of Honor, John Henry Balch received:

Purple Heart Silver Star

Source: Wikidata. Gold chips link to our guide to that decoration.

Battles and campaigns

1918 · World War I

Battle of Belleau Wood

Result: Allied victory

9 Medal of Honor recipients

Also served in: World War I, World War II.

Places

Born: Edgerton — map
Buried: Riverside National Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Missouri →

Timeline

January 2, 1896
Born in Edgerton, Johnson County, Kansas
October 5, 1918
Act of valor — Vierzy & Somme-Py, France
Age 22. 6th Regiment, U.S. Marines
October 1919
Medal of Honor presented
Great Lakes Naval Station, presented by Adm. William A. Moffett
October 15, 1980
Died in Sun City, California
Age 84.
Resting place
Riverside National Cemetery
Riverside, California

Biography

John Henry Balch (January 2, 1896 – October 15, 1980) was a United States Naval Reserve officer. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions in World War I.

From the Wikipedia article “John Henry Balch”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on October 5, 1918

Michael B. Ellis Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918

Same unit

Joel Thompson Boone Lieutenant Commander · Navy World War I · 1918

More World War I recipients from Missouri

AS Alexander Rives Skinker Captain · Army World War I · 1918 ✦ CB Charles Denver Barger Private First Class · Army World War I · 1918 MH M. Waldo Hatler Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918 JB John Lewis Barkley Private First Class · Army World War I · 1918 AF Arthur J. Forrest Sergeant · Army World War I · 1919

Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.