Forget the Books and the Stories and the Command Chronologies! If I were more organized I should be able to write at least a couple of books about our 81s Platoon and all I would need is the information from all of the E-mail Information that we send to each other. But then perhaps I was born to be an Observer! Hmm? Oh Well. I hope someone here will be able to gather adn organize this material and write something better than I can do.

Carl Ballard, Sr. was born December 3, 1940 to the late Ethel and Dave Bollard in Chicago, Illinois where he graduated from Grain High School with commendations for his superior service to the school programs. He was the eldest of fourteen children.
In 1960, he enlisted in the United States Marines Corp where he was awarded medals for National Defense Service, Vietnam Service, Vietnam Campaign and Good Conduct (twice), as well as, a Presidential Unit Citation for his service during the Vietnam Crisis. He was honorably discharged in 1968, with the rank of Sergeant. He relocated to Washington, D.C.