WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL - Pvt. Eugene Cornelious Ball

 

Private Eugene Cornelious Ball

Born in Delta County, Michigan, on December 6, 1915, Eugene at some point became a resident of Ney with his parents, Francis "Frank" Alois and Clarissa Ann (Guerno) Ball . Eugene was a graduate of Ney High School, and then worked at American Steel Package Company on Squire Avenue in Defiance.

He was 26 when he enlisted on January 9, 1942, and he proceeded to Camp Perry, Ohio. He also trained at Camp Wolters, Texas; Camp McCoy, Wisconsin; Florida and South Carolina before being sent to England.

Pvt. Ball was part of Company K, 4th Infantry Division and he participated in the landing on Utah Beach in the invasion of Normandy, Operation Overlord. The unit landed on June 6, 1944, and Eugene was wounded and died on June 22, 1944.  He was admitted to the hospital after wounded with an artillery shell in the leg, as well as fragments and debris, but he could not be saved.

Disembarking at Utah Beach

The Crescent-News reported on December 4, 1944, that "Mr. and Mrs. Frank Ball, Ney, have received the Purple Heart which was posthumously awarded to their son, Eugene C. Ball, who was killed in France June 22."

Defiance Crescent-News, December 9, 1948.

It was a long wait for the family before Eugene was returned to the states for burial at Riverside Cemetery, Defiance.  Services were held for him in January 1949, at the Marysdale Catholic Church. He was buried with full military honors.

Riverside Cemetery

Special note: On August 15, 1945, Eugene's brother and wife, Mr. and Mrs. James Munro Ball had an infant son. They baptized him and honored the child with his brother's name, Eugene Clark Ball.

Robert Carpenter, Researcher