Frank Elihue Ball – Colonel, United States Army

From a contemporary press report:

Frank Elihue Ball, who joined the Army in 1939 and retired in 1972 as a colonel, died December 18, 1999 at Reston Hospital Center after a stroke. He lived at Falcon’s Landing retirement community in Sterling and had been in the Washington area since 1961.

Colonel Ball served in World War II and the Korean War and was last stationed at the Pentagon in the secretary of defense’s office. He then worked a year at Information Concepts, a Virginia military contractor, before retiring completely.

Among his military honors were the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, the Bronze Star with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, the Purple Heart and the Combat Infantryman’s Badge.

He was born in Minter, Texas, and graduated in 1939 from Texas A&M University with a bachelor’s degree in animal husbandry. He graduated from the Command and General Staff College, Armed Forces Staff College and National War College.

He was a member of Charles Wesley United Methodist Church in McLean.

Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Georgia Helen Whitney Ball of Sterling; a daughter, Georgia Ann B. Hall Kepner of Sterling; two sons, David W., of Charlottesville, and Frank Jr., of New York City; a brother; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

BALL, FRANK E., COL. USA (Ret.)

Of Sterling, Virginia on December 18, 1999, at Reston Hospital. He had a distinguished military career and was a highly decorated officer serving in WW II as well as the Korean conflict. Husband of Georgia H. Ball; father of Ann Kepner of Sterling, VA, Frank E. Ball Jr. of New York, NY and David W. Ball of Charlottesville, VA; brother of John David Ball of Paris, TX. Also survived by five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Graveside services will be held on Thursday, December 30, 1999 at 11 a.m. at Arlington National Cemetery with full honors. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages contributions to the Georgia H. and Frank E. Ball (”39”) Endowed Opportunity Award Fund at Texas A&M University, 401 George Bush Dr., College Station, TX 77840-2811, payable to Texas A&M Foundation, Ref: Ball E.A.O.

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard