Richard Oren Ballard was inducted into the U.S. Army on March 14, 1941. His basic training was in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. He left for overseas duty on October 23, 1942 and served with the Second Battalion, 21st engineer aviation regiment in continuous overseas service until the end of the war. Serving throughout the North African and Italian campaigns, his unit was the first aviation unit ashore in French Morocco at Fort Lyautey and Casablanca. His decorations include the European-African-Mideastern Campaign Medal with four bronze service stars, and one bronze arrowhead; the American Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. He was discharged as a Technician 3 in Fort Sam Houston, Texas on September 30, 1945. Richard died March 17, 1990 and is buried in the Randolph Cemetery.