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Roxanne Howe-Family
to remember
Ballenger, Carl Augustus, SSG.
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Casualty Info
Home Town Valley Station, KY
Last Address Valley Station, KY
Casualty Date Oct 20, 1967
Cause Non Hostile- Died Other Causes
Reason Suicide
Location Bien Hoa (Vietnam)
Conflict Vietnam War
Location of Interment Fort Knox Post Cemetery (VLM) - Fort Knox, Kentucky
Wall/Plot Coordinates Section 28E, Site 042
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
Casualty Occurrence: POSTED ON 10.25.2018, POSTED BY: WKILLIAN@SMJUHSD.ORG, GROUND CASUALTY, SSG Carl A. Ballenger was a Track Vehicle Mechanic serving with the 553rd Maintenance Company (Heavy Equipment). On October 20, 1967, SSG Ballenger died in Bien Hoa Province, RVN, where it was reported he took his own life. He was 36 years-old. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org]
Comments/Citation:
SSG Carl A. Ballenger was a Track Vehicle Mechanic serving with the 553rd Maintenance Company (Heavy Equipment). SSG Ballenger died in Bien Hoa Province. Obituary from Louisville Courier Journal, October 28, 1967. "Sgt Carl A. Ballenger, 36, a former resident of Muldraugh, Ky, was killed in action on October 27, in Vietnam. Details of his death are not immediately known. Ballenger of Killeen, Tx, had been in the Army for 13 years. He was a native of Corinth, Kentucky. Survivors include his widow, the former Regina Hook, two daughters, Barbara Ann and Carol Sue; two sons, Terry W. and Carl T. and his mother, Mrs. Elzora Ballenger of Muldraugh. The funeral will be at the Post Chapel."
Vietnam War/Counteroffensive Phase III Campaign (1967-68)
From Month/Year
June / 1967
To Month/Year
January / 1968
Description This campaign was from 1 June 1967 to 29 January 1968.The conflict in South Vietnam remains basically unchanged. As Operation JUNCTION CITY ended, elements of the U.S. 1st and 25th Infantry Divisions, the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, and the forces of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam swung back toward Saigon to conduct another clearing operation, MANHATTAN. This took peace in the Long Nguyen base area just north of the previously cleared "Iron Triangle."
South Vietnamese Armed Forces became more active and capable under U.S. advisors. During the year the Vietnamese Special Forces assumed responsibility for several Special Forces camps and for the CIDG companies manning them. In each case all of the U.S. advisors withdrew, leaving the Vietnamese in full command.
With an increased delegation of responsibility to them, the South Vietnamese conducted major operations during 1967, and, in spite of VC attempts to avoid battle, achieved a number of contacts.
Despite the success of U.S. and South Vietnamese Army operations, there were indications in the fall of 1967 of another enemy build-up, particularly in areas close to Laos and Cambodia. In late October, the VC struck again at the Special Forces Camp at Loc Ninh. Fortunately Vietnamese reinforcements saved the camp. At the same time, approximately 12,000 VC troops converged on a Special Forces camp at Dak To. This camp was located in northern Kontum Province, where the borders of Laos, Cambodia, and South Vietnam meet. In response to this potential threat, the U.S. and South Vietnam committed a total of sixteen battalions to the region to counter a disturbing enemy resurgence at Kontum and Loc Ninh.