Donald Luther Balch was born July 16, 1917, in Youngstown, Ohio.  He served in the Marine Corps Reserve from 1938 until 1958 when he retired with the rank of Major.  He was a Marine Corps Aviator and during World War II became an Ace with five victories to his credit.  During the war he primarily flew the F4U Corsair fighter from the carrier USS Bunker Hill (CV-17), participated in sweeps over Japan, and supported the landing at Iwo Jima and operations on Okinawa.  He died August 1, 1995, and his ashes are located at the Santa Barbara Cemetery in California.

Seated on a South Pacific island by his Corsair fighter heavily damaged by enemy aircraft fire and a bullet punctured tire as he contemplates his relatively good fortune with a smile of relief.

DISTINGUISHED  FLYING  CROSS  CITATION

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Donald Luther Balch (MCSN: 0-13391), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight in operations against the enemy in the Okinawa area on 28 April 1945.  While flying as a member of a six plane flight of carrier-based fighter planes on combat air patrol over friendly ships in the vicinity of Okinawa, he and the pilots accompanying him sighted a formation of approximately thirty enemy fighters as they were approaching Okinawa to launch an attack on shipping and land installations.  Although heavily outnumbered he and his flight unhesitatingly pressed home an attack on the enemy that resulted in the destruction of fourteen enemy planes and the probable destruction of one.  He personally shot down two enemy planes.  The enemy formation was scattered and the remaining planes headed back without delivering their attack.  His aggressive spirit and courage in attacking superior numbers of the enemy and his skill in shooting down two enemy planes contributed materially to the safety of our ships and land installations.  His conduct throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Submitted by CDR Roy A. Mosteller, USNR (Ret)