Ball, Michael Edward, CPL

Casualty Occurrence:  POSTED ON 4.2.2017, POSTED BY: WKILLIAN@SMJUHSD.ORG. GROUND CASUALTY, CPL Michael E. Ball served with 3rd Platoon, C Company, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry, 198th Infantry Brigade. On April 17, 1971, CPL Ball was with his platoon on a combat patrol near An Hoa Airfield in Quang Nam Province, RVN. In the evening, they were preparing to set up their overnight laager. Another platoon had bivouaced nearby and it was standard procedure to place out mechanical ambush devices around their night defensive positions. Some of the squad leaders in 3rd Platoon felt that there was not enough separation between their laager and the other platoon. However, 3rd Platoon’s new leader ignored their concerns and decided they would stay where they were. He then sent out CPL Ball and another trooper to set some ambushes up on a trail. As Ball and the other soldier moved down the trail, they triggered a mechanical ambush that had been place there by the other platoon. There was a large explosion followed by screams. A medic and another soldier rushed the eighty meters to them. Ball was still alive. He looked up at the medic and said, “Help me doc. I’m hit bad.” He then went into shock and died shortly thereafter. The other soldier suffered severe injuries to his legs. Both were medevaced to the 23rd Medical Battalion at Hawk Hill. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and ttu.edu]

   
Michael began his Vietnam tour on Sep 2, 1970 and was assigned to the Army's 196th Light Infantry Brigade, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, Company C. He accidentally detonated a mechanical ambush set by another platoon and died of fragmentation wounds to the body. Survived by his brothers and sisters, Donald Thomas, Harry Douglas, Bettie Pearl, Willana Jo, Nellie and Olive Raye Ball. Both of his parents were deceased, Richard William Ball and Hattie Francis Huffman Ball (died 1961).
 
Debra  Murray, My favorite uncle.. He loved my mother, his sister, very much. Michael was one of a kind. She signed the paper that sent him to Vietnam because he desperately wanted to serve his country. He's a hero in heaven and we still miss him. Dec 22, 2013.
 
Dan  Callnon, Good Friend, Gold River CA 95670 I was with Michael the day he died. I have been trying to contact his family ever since. If you can help, please contact me at either my email address or phone number at 916-712-2661. It's been over 40 years now and I have a picture of Michael I would like to share with the family as well as memories of him. Thanks, Dan. Nov 1, 2011.