Ballard, Ronnie Edsel, PFC

  
Casualty Occurrence: This Soldier ws killed with fragmentation wounds in an ATTACK ON FSB BURT (SOUI CUT), 13 KM EAST-SOUTHEAST OF BO TUC (ON ROUTE 246), NIGHT OF 01-02 JAN 1968, during Operation Yellowstone. 

POSTED ON 6.3.2018, POSTED BY: [email protected]. NEW YEAR'S DAY BATTLE OF 1968. On the night of January 1-2, 1968, the 2-22 Infantry (Mechanized), 3-22 Infantry, and the 2-77 Artillery for 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry, were involved in a massive human wave attack by four battalions of North Vietnam Army (NVA) and Viet Cong (VC) at Fire Support Base Burt in Tay Ninh Province, RVN. After skirmishes the previous day suggested a significant enemy build up near the base, enemy 60mm mortars began falling inside of the base perimeter at 11:30 PM on January 1st. Approximately 200 rounds total would fall on the base. The main force of the attack began at one minute after midnight, beginning on the northern portion of the perimeter. Almost simultaneously, a heavy attack of rocket-propelled grenades (RPG’s), machine guns, and small arms opened up on the southern portion of the base. Within minutes, the eastern perimeter was also attacked by a large force with RPG’s, machine guns, small arms, and grenades, as they attempted to penetrate the company perimeter. The VC continued to cover their attack with 60mm mortar fire. All US personnel not occupying listening posts or ambushes defended from sandbagged bunkers. Between 1:00 AM to 2:30 AM, 105mm “beehive” anti-personnel rounds were requested and fired along Company C perimeter to blunt the frontal assault occurring there. Fierce close-in fighting continued until approximately 5:00 AM, when the VC began to withdraw, leaving behind their dead and wounded. By 6:30, the fighting had nearly stopped, with only occasional sniper and some automatic weapons fire. The Americans were victorious in repulsing the attack.

Over 400 NVA and VC were killed with U.S. losses at 23 killed and 153 wounded. The lost Americans included PFC Ronnie E. Ballard, 2LT John W. Beckett, SP4 Thomas G. Bernardy, SGT Robert E. Bowman, PFC Houston C. Box Jr., SP4 Robert L. Campbell, SGT Kenneth B. Carpenter, SP4 Ennis E. Crow, SSG Fred C. DuBose III, SP4 Eldon Garamillo, SGT James J. Lind, SP4 James W. McCaffrey, PFC Jack W. Miller, PFC Willie Petty Jr., PFC Samuel Rivera-Fernandez, PFC Ralph L. Rotter, SGT Anderson L. Ruderson, SP4 David R. Smith, PFC Odell Stokes Jr., CPL Abel C. Stroud III, PFC Victor D. Tomczyk, CPL Alton L. Watkins Jr., and CPL Bobby J. Winkler. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and vietnamtripledeuce.org].

POSTED ON 7.6.2018, I NEVER KNEW YOU. I am here to day to remember my Great Uncle Ronnie, I never knew you, a man that was taken from my life before it was even created. But I want to thank you. From what I have been told you were shot and killed the second your foot touched that foreign soil. You were never even able to fire your weapon. You gave your life for this great country and for me. So I will forever remain thankful. I am sad not to have know you, but I will always appreciate your ultimate sacrifice.

Richard Burns, Friend and Classmate, 2006 Rosewood St, Pocahontas, AR 72455. Ronnie Ballard - A winning smile and a fine throwing arm. Ronnie was one of the nicest people I ever knew. He loved sports, especially baseball, at which he was good. He grew up in the country in Northeast Arkansas and attended the Pocahontas School System, which is where I came to know him. His folks are fine people, country people who are fair, honest and love a good story shared around the warm stove at the country store at Attica or a friendly greeting from an acquaintance on the street in downtown Pocahontas. Ronnie was one of the best this country had to offer and, all to sadly, was taken from us to young and far too soon. His brother Danny, who runs the Randolph County Roads Shop, reminds me of him so much, it almost hurts to see him. But then, its good to see him and be reminded of my friend Ronnie again. I too served in Viet Nam, arriving six months after Ronnie was KIA, served my time and returned to the States with the first combat unit withdrawn in July 1969. We all lost something in Viet Nam, but Ronnie lost his life there. For his sacrifice I will always be thankful and sad. Ronnie was a patriot, a friend and is a hero of this country. May he always be remembered as such. Wednesday, January 14, 2004. A loving niece