Clinton Field Ball (1918 - 1981)

Born 12 Sep 1918 in Waco, McLennan, Texas, United States

Died 9 Aug 1981 at age 62 in San Antonio, Bexar, Texas, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Terry Poole [send private message]

Biography

Clinton Ball was awarded the Silver Star Medal.

Clinton Ball was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States).

Clinton Ball was awarded the Croix de Guerre 1939-1945 avec Palme de Bronze (France).

Clinton Ball was awarded the Air Medal.

Lt. Colonel Clinton Ball served in the United States Army Air Forces in World War II
Service started: 11 Jun 1941
Unit(s): 351st HQ, 351st Bombardment Group, Eighth Air Force
Service ended: 30 Jun 1961

Clinton was born 12 September 1918 in Waco, Texas. He was the son of Clinton William Ball & Mary Elizabeth Fields.^[1]

He married Ellen Mary Cavanaugh 14 June 1941 at West Point, New York.^[2] They divorced in 1955 in Montgomery, Alabama.^[3]

He passed away 9 August 1981 at Fort Sam Houston.^[4]

World War II 351st Bombardment Group Missions Led^[5]

13 June 1943 - Bremen, Germany

15 June 1943 - Le Mans, France

4 July 1943 - Le Mans, France

14 July 1943 - Amiens A/F, France

25 July 1943 - Hamburg, Germany

7 September 1943 - Brussels A/F, Belgium

16 September 1943 - Nantes, France

3 November 1943 - Wilhelmshaven, Germany

24 February 1944 - Schweinfurt, Germany

4 May 1944 - Berlin, Germany

8 May 1944 - Berlin, Germany

7 June 1944 - Falaise, France

14 June 1944 - Le Bourget, France (Co-leader with Major Roper)

20 June 1944 - Hamburg, Germany

7 Jul 1944 - Leipzig, Germany

24 July 1944 - St. Lo, France

17 October 1944 - Cologne, Germany

4 November 1944 - Harburg, Germany

5 December 1944 - Berlin, Germany

28 February 1945 - Soest, Germany

26 March 1945 - Plauen, Germany (Secondary Target)

Military Rank Promotions^[6]

2nd Lieutenant (Graduation from West Point Military Academy) June 1941

1st Lieutenant - 1 February 1942

Captain - 11 December 1942

Major - 26 June 1943

Lt. Colonel - 15 February 1944

Colonel - After 1948

• Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
  Find A Grave: Memorial #318455 (accessed 24 July 2023)
  Memorial page for Clinton Field Ball (12 Sep 1918-9 Aug 1981), citing Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, USA (plot: Section 4 Site 711); Maintained by Gathering Roots (contributor 47213048).
• 1920 Census: "United States Census, 1920"
  citing Affiliate Publication Number: T625; Affiliate Film Number: 769; Line: 44; FHL microfilm: 1820769; Record number: 39504;
  FamilySearch Record: MZ3H-Z7C (accessed 24 July 2023)
  FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GRF9-198 Image number 00819
  F Clinton Ball (1), single son, in household of W Clinton Ball (26) in Houghton, Michigan, United States. Born in Texas.
• 1930 Census: "United States Census, 1930"
  citing enumeration district (ED) ED 32, sheet 17A, line 40, family 398, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 994; FHL microfilm 2,340,729.
  FamilySearch Record: XQB3-QB4 (accessed 24 July 2023)
  FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GRHW-38P Image number 00303
  Clinton F Ball (11), single son, in household of Clinton W Ball (37) in Houghton, Houghton, Michigan, United States. Born in Texas.
• 1940 Census: "United States Census, 1940"
  citing Affiliate Publication Number: T627; Line: 21;
  FamilySearch Record: K3B6-Z5X (accessed 24 July 2023)
  FamilySearch Image: 3QSQ-G9MB-9L8J
  Clinton F Ball (21), single in Highlands, Orange, New York, United States. Born in Texas.
• 1950 Census: "United States 1950 Census"
  citing Page: 13; Line: 16;
  FamilySearch Record: 6XKT-R7CR (accessed 24 July 2023)
  FamilySearch Image: 3QHN-GQHW-S2HW
  Clinton F Ball (31), married, Armed Forces, head of household in Bernalillo, New Mexico, United States. Born in Texas.

Silver Star Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps), [then Captain and Major] Clinton Field Ball (ASN: 0-23945), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action while participating in an unusually large number of heavy bombardment operations while serving as Executive Officer, 351st Bombardment Group, EIGHTH Air Force over Continental Europe from 9 May 1943 to 26 March 1945. During this period, Colonel Ball displayed combat skill, aggressiveness, and courage to a degree that proved inspirational to all who served with him. On the mission to Schweinfurt, 17 August 1943, Colonel Ball maintained stringent air discipline to maneuver his formation through unprecedented enemy opposition with the loss of only one aircraft. Leading the 1st Air Division to Germany, 26 March 1945, adverse weather was encountered which would have caused a less determined leader to return to base. Undaunted, he overcame almost insurmountable handicaps to bomb a vital enemy installation. His peerless leadership, tenacity, and devotion to duty in executing each assignment without stint or regard for personal danger reflect highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.^[7]

Sources

1. ↑ Birth: "Texas Birth Certificates, 1903-1935"
   citing Waco, Mclennan, Texas, United States, certificate 48289, Texas Department of Health, Austin; FHL microfilm 4,490,663.
   FamilySearch Record: X2JM-X5S (accessed 24 July 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: S3HY-X3WS-SSB
   Clinton Fields Ball born on 12 Sep 1918, son of Clinton Wm Ball & Mary Elizabeth Fields, in Waco, Mclennan, Texas, United States.
2. ↑ Miss Cavanaugh and Lieut. Clinton Ball Wed at West Point: "Newspapers.com"
   Quad-City Times (Davenport, Iowa) Tue, Jun 17, 1941, page 4
   Newspapers Clip: 19229171 (accessed 24 July 2023)
3. ↑ Divorce: "Alabama, U.S., Divorce Index, 1950-1959"
   Original data: Alabama Center for Health Statistics. Alabama Divorce Index, 1950-1959. Montgomery, AL, USA: Alabama Center for Health Statistics
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8976 #109743 (accessed 24 July 2023)
   Clinton F Ball divorce in Jun 1955.
4. ↑ Death: "Texas, U.S., Death Certificates, 1903-1982"
   Texas Department of State Health Services; Austin Texas, USA; Texas Death Certificates, 1903–1982; Certificate Number: 69088
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2272 #777736 (accessed 24 July 2023)
   Clinton Field Ball death 9 Aug 1981 (born 12 Sep 1918), son of Clinton William Ball & Mary Elizabeth Field, in Fort Sam Houston, Bexar, Texas, USA.
5. ↑ 351st Org - Missions
6. ↑ U. S. Military Register: "U.S., Select Military Registers, 1862-1985"
   Original data: United States Military Registers, 1902-1985. Salem, Oregon: Oregon State Library
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2345 #1561708 (accessed 24 July 2023)
   Birth Place: Texas; Name: Clinton F Ball; Birth Date: 12 Sep 1918; Military Date: 11 Jun 1944; Publication Date: 1948; Title: U.S. Army and Air Force Register.
7. ↑ The Hall of Valor Project - Clinton Field Ball

• West Point Graduate: "Newspapers.com"
  The Rock Island Argus (Rock Island, Illinois) Thu, May 29, 1941, page 7
  Newspapers Clip: 46537330 (accessed 24 July 2023)
• ENGINEER CHIEF’S SON RECEIVES COMMISSION: "Newspapers.com"
  The Dispatch (Moline, Illinois) Thu, Jan 15, 1942, page 16
  Newspapers Clip: 128784979 (accessed 24 July 2023)
• Small Losses To ‘Ball’ Planes: "Newspapers.com"
  The Shreveport Journal (Shreveport, Louisiana) Fri, Jun 4, 1943, page 20
  Newspapers Clip: 41826011 (accessed 24 July 2023)
• Promoted to Major: "Newspapers.com"
  Waco Tribune-Herald (Waco, Texas) Sun, Aug 15, 1943, page 18
  Newspapers Clip: 1547220 (accessed 24 July 2023)
• Wacoan Helps To Bomb Nazi Plant: "Newspapers.com"
  The Waco News-Tribune (Waco, Texas) Thu, Jul 15, 1943, page 1
  Newspapers Clip: 6920353 (accessed 24 July 2023)
• France Decorates Col. Clinton Ball For POW Mission: "Newspapers.com"
  Waco Tribune-Herald (Waco, Texas) Sun, Jul 15, 1945, page 7
  Newspapers Clip: 128793671 (accessed 24 July 2023)
• COL. CLINTION BALL RETIRES: "Newspapers.com"
  The Montgomery Advertiser (Montgomery, Alabama) Sun, Jul 30, 1961, page 16
  Newspapers Clip: 90401454 (accessed 24 July 2023)
• Military: "U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010"
  Original data: Beneficiary Identification Records Locator Subsystem (BIRLS) Death File. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Page number: 1
  Ancestry Record 2441 #14186008 (accessed 24 July 2023)
  Gender: Male; Death Date: 9 Aug 1981; Discharge Date: 30 Jun 1961; Birth Date: 12 Feb 1918; Enlistment Branch: ARMY; Name: Clinton F Ball; Enlistment Date: 11 Jun 1941.