John Henry Balch

Sixteen Hours Under Fire to Reach the Wounded

John Henry Balch earned the Medal of Honor for treating wounded Marines under fire at Vierzy and Somme-Py, France, during the First World War. A U.S. Navy pharmacist's mate first class serving with the 6th Marine Regiment, he left his dressing station to reach men as they fell and continued his rescue work for 16 hours without stopping.

Born on 2 January 1896 in Edgerton, Kansas, Balch enlisted as a hospital apprentice second class at Oklahoma City on 26 May 1917. He served at the Washington Navy Yard and the naval hospital at Annapolis before joining the 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, in July 1917. The regiment formed part of the American Expeditionary Forces in France. As a Navy medical serviceman attached to Marines, his duties placed him alongside infantrymen in ground combat.

Balch advanced to pharmacist's mate first class in May 1918. He served at Belleau Wood and was wounded during fighting in the Château-Thierry sector. Those experiences preceded the two actions recognised in his Medal of Honor citation.

At Vierzy on 19 July 1918, an attack left wounded men exposed to machine-gun fire and exploding shells. Balch went forward voluntarily rather than waiting for casualties to reach his dressing station. Working through the day and late into the night, he provided care despite the continuing bombardment. At Somme-Py on 5 October, he again moved medical support closer to the fighting, establishing an advanced dressing station under heavy shellfire.

Official Medal of Honor citation United States Army transcription:

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 machinegun 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.

Balch left active service on 19 August 1919. The following month, Rear Admiral Frederic D. Bassett Jr. presented his Medal of Honor at the YMCA in Chicago. His service also earned the Distinguished Service Cross and other American and foreign decorations.

He returned to the Naval Reserve as a lieutenant on 2 September 1942 and served during the Second World War in the United States, Australia and the Philippines. He retired as a commander on 1 June 1950.

Balch died on 15 October 1980, aged 84, and was buried at Riverside National Cemetery in California, Section 2, Site 1925. His legacy is one of medical courage: a sailor who repeatedly brought care to wounded Marines where the danger was greatest.