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Donald Luther Balch

Donald Luther Balch
Era WWII
Branch U.S. Marine Corps
Rank Major
Military Decorations Distinguished Flying Cross
Wall D
Wall Side 1
Row 7
Plaque Number 39

Distinguished Flying Cross, Naval Aviator, Air Medal w/4 Stars

An Air Ace Fighter pilot with five downed enemy aircraft to his credit. Flew F4U Corsairs primarily from the carrier USS Bunker Hill CV-17. Participated in the fleet sweep over Japan and supported the landing at Iwo Jima and operations on Okinawa.

"Bullets couldn't stop this Leatherneck"

With the tail of his Corsair heavily damaged by enemy .50 caliber machine gun fire and a bullet punctured tire, 1st Lt. Donald Balch, USC, managed to land his plane at his South Pacific base and escape injury. The plane pancaked as it hit the field. Lt Balch contemplates his relatively good fortune with a smile of relief.

VMF-221
"The Fighting Falcons"

Plaque Wall Map

Plaque wall map
John Dadian

John Dadian

John M. Dadian founded Dadian & Associates in 1992 after a successful career in government service. Dadian & Associates specializes in governmental relations and public affairs. Services include community relations, project development, media relations, and special event planning.

John’s government service included serving as Chief of Staff to then-San Diego County Supervisor Susan Golding. In Los Angeles, John was Deputy County Supervisor for Mike Antonovich.

A California native, John earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from San Francisco State University. Before attending college, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he was the recipient of numerous awards.

John Dadian

John Dadian

John M. Dadian founded Dadian & Associates in 1992 after a successful career in government service. Dadian & Associates specializes in governmental relations and public affairs. Services include community relations, project development, media relations, and special event planning.

John’s government service included serving as Chief of Staff to then-San Diego County Supervisor Susan Golding. In Los Angeles, John was Deputy County Supervisor for Mike Antonovich.

A California native, John earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from San Francisco State University. Before attending college, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he was the recipient of numerous awards.

John Dadian

John M. Dadian founded Dadian & Associates in 1992 after a successful career in government service. Dadian & Associates specializes in governmental relations and public affairs. Services include community relations, project development, media relations, and special event planning.

John’s government service included serving as Chief of Staff to then-San Diego County Supervisor Susan Golding. In Los Angeles, John was Deputy County Supervisor for Mike Antonovich.

A California native, John earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from San Francisco State University. Before attending college, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he was the recipient of numerous awards.

John Dadian

John M. Dadian founded Dadian & Associates in 1992 after a successful career in government service. Dadian & Associates specializes in governmental relations and public affairs. Services include community relations, project development, media relations, and special event planning.

John’s government service included serving as Chief of Staff to then-San Diego County Supervisor Susan Golding. In Los Angeles, John was Deputy County Supervisor for Mike Antonovich.

A California native, John earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from San Francisco State University. Before attending college, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he was the recipient of numerous awards.

John Dadian

John M. Dadian founded Dadian & Associates in 1992 after a successful career in government service. Dadian & Associates specializes in governmental relations and public affairs. Services include community relations, project development, media relations, and special event planning.

John’s government service included serving as Chief of Staff to then-San Diego County Supervisor Susan Golding. In Los Angeles, John was Deputy County Supervisor for Mike Antonovich.

A California native, John earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from San Francisco State University. Before attending college, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he was the recipient of numerous awards.

John Dadian

John M. Dadian founded Dadian & Associates in 1992 after a successful career in government service. Dadian & Associates specializes in governmental relations and public affairs. Services include community relations, project development, media relations, and special event planning.

John’s government service included serving as Chief of Staff to then-San Diego County Supervisor Susan Golding. In Los Angeles, John was Deputy County Supervisor for Mike Antonovich.

A California native, John earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from San Francisco State University. Before attending college, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he was the recipient of numerous awards.

John Dadian

John M. Dadian founded Dadian & Associates in 1992 after a successful career in government service. Dadian & Associates specializes in governmental relations and public affairs. Services include community relations, project development, media relations, and special event planning.

John’s government service included serving as Chief of Staff to then-San Diego County Supervisor Susan Golding. In Los Angeles, John was Deputy County Supervisor for Mike Antonovich.

A California native, John earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from San Francisco State University. Before attending college, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he was the recipient of numerous awards.

John Dadian

John M. Dadian founded Dadian & Associates in 1992 after a successful career in government service. Dadian & Associates specializes in governmental relations and public affairs. Services include community relations, project development, media relations, and special event planning.

John’s government service included serving as Chief of Staff to then-San Diego County Supervisor Susan Golding. In Los Angeles, John was Deputy County Supervisor for Mike Antonovich.

A California native, John earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from San Francisco State University. Before attending college, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he was the recipient of numerous awards.