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John J. Balls was born March 1st, 1919 in Rye, NY. John lived at Hillbrook, Lincoln Avenue in Harrison, New York. John lived on a farm that his father rented, where he lived with his brother Daniel, (4 years older), his mother, Alice Balls, (53 as of the 1940 census), and his father, Daniel Balls (52 as of the 1940 census).
John attended Rye High School, class of 1938. In school he did a number of extracurricular activities and excelled in them. John was the Vice President of his class and played on the Baseball team. He was a member of the Q.V. Club, the Junior Coaches, the Fingerprinting Club and the Drivers club, as well as a Messenger. John enlisted into the Navy during WWII after graduating from Syracuse University.
Ensign John J. Balls Commissioned as Flyer
John joined the Naval Reserve at Floyd Bennett Field, Brooklyn, and went through elimination flight training at the Naval Reserve Air Base there. He was then transferred to the Miami Air Station after he was selected for advanced training in piloting, and completed this course on Febuary 9th, 1942. He was a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Naval Air Force. John served as a Dive Bomber on the Aircraft Carrier U.S.S.Chenango off Guadalcanal.
Arriving at Nouméa on 18 January 1943, the Chenango joined the escort carrier group providing air cover for supply convoys supporting the invasion and occupation of the Solomon Islands. One of her air groups was sent to Henderson Field, Guadalcanal to give close support to U.S. Marine Corps forces ashore. One of Chenango's duties during this period was to stand sentry off the fiercely contested island.
As part of her Solomons operations, Chenango's planes formed an air umbrella to escort to safety St. Louis and Honolulu after the cruisers were damaged in the Battle of Kolombangara on 13 July. Redesignated CVE-28 on 15 July, Chenango returned to Mare Island on 18 August for an overhaul, then acted as training carrier for new air groups until 19 October.
She steamed from San Diego to join the Gilbert Islands invasion force at Espiritu Santo on 5 November. During The Battle of Tarawa from 20 November-8 December, her planes covered the advance of the attack force, bombed and strafed beaches ahead of the invading troops, and protected off-shore convoys.
John was discharged October 13, 1945 and returned home.
John Ball married Yvonne Cornu, on Febuary 13th, 1946. The couple lived at 30 Prescott Ave., White Plains and then Atlanta before moving to Nashville in the late 1950's. John was a salesman for Aberdeen Manufacturing Group of New York City, a textile manufacturing firm until his retirement. He was a parishioner of St. Henry Catholic Church of Nashville.
John Joseph Balls died Thursday morning, May 2, 1985 at his residence. He was survived by his wife and children, Nancy, John, Janet, and Stephen Balls.
John Melfi
RHS 2021
5/18/2021
Sources:
The Daily Item, 1940 Census, The Rye Chronicle, 1938 Rye Stage Coach Yearbook
 John Joseph Balls a native of Rye and retired salesman died Thursday in hisNashville Tmn home after a long illness He was 64 Mr Balls was bom March 1 1414 in Rye He was the son of Alice and Daniel Balls Mr Balls attend Resurrection School in Rye and graduated from Rye High School in 1431 He attended Syracuse (NY) University In Rye he lived at 37 Redfidd SL Daring World War U Mr Balls served as a lieutenant commander in the U& Naval Air Force ' ' Mr Balls was married Feb 13 1444 to Yvonne Cornu who survives in Nashville The couple lived at 30 Prescott Ave White Plains and in Atlanta before moving to Nashville 30 years ago Mr Balls was a salesman for Aberdeen Manufacturing 'Gorp of NewYork City a textile-manufac-turined inn until his retirement two Mr Bilk was aparishioner of SL Henry Catholic Church of Nashville In addition to his wife Mr Balls is survived by two sons Stephen of New York City and John of Atlanta two daughters Nancy Murphy of Huntsville Ala and Janet Gwinn of Nashville one brother Daniel of Charlotte NCand four grahdcfail-' dren
BALLS, John Joseph Thursday morning, May 2, 1985 at his residence. Survived by wife, Mrs. Yvonne Cornu Balls; daughters, Mrs. Robert (Janet) Gwinn of Nashville, Mrs. Patrick (Nancy) Murph;, Huntsville, Ala.; sons, John Joseph Balls Jr., Atlanta, Ga. and Stephen E. Balls, New York, N.Y.; grandchildren, Elizabeth Curran Gwinn, Michael Andrew Gwinn, both of Nashville, William Reid Murphy and Mary Kathleen Murphy, both of Huntsville, Ala.; brother, Daniel T. Balls, Charlotte, N.C. Mr. Balls is at the Chapel of Martin's & Bracey--Welsh, 209 Louise Ave., where the family will receive friends this Friday from 7 to 9 p.m. Funeral Saturday morning leaving at 9:30 o'clock for Mass of Christian Burial from St. Henry Church, 6401 Harding Rd., at 10:00 o'clock. Interment Harpeth Hills Memory Gardens. The Rosary will be recited this evening at the Funeral Home at 7 p.m. MARTIN'S & BRACEY--WELSH, INC., 327-1032
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Balls, John J. 
