Donald H. Balch (August 19, 1931 – October 14, 2007) was a brigadier general in the United States Air Force.

Biography

Balch was born on August 19, 1931, in

Bellows Falls, Vermont Bellows Falls is an incorporated village located in the town of Rockingham in Windham County, Vermont, United States. The population was 2,747 at the 2020 census. Bellows Falls is home to the Green Mountain Railroad, a heritage railroad; the ...

. He later attended the University of Vermont and the New England School of Law and married and had three children. His son, Gareth, also served in the Air Force. Balch was killed in an automobile accident on October 14, 2007, in

Bulverde, Texas Bulverde ( ) is a city in Comal County, Texas, United States. Bulverde is known for its small-town, slow pace of life, coupled with the German emigrant history of the town's founders. Bulverde was originally named Piepers Settlement after a promin ...

, and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.Burial Detail: Balch, Donald Herbert
– ANC Explorer

Career

Balch was commissioned an officer in the Air Force in 1954. In 1961 he entered the

Air Force Reserve Command The Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) is a major command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force, with its headquarters at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. It is the federal Air Reserve Component (ARC) of the U.S. Air Force, consisting of commiss ...

. He served in the Vietnam War and commanded the

512th Military Airlift Wing The 512th Airlift Wing, an associate Air Force Reserve Command unit is located at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. The wing helps maintain, repair and fly the same aircraft as its active-duty counterparts. Members of the 512th work side-by-side w ...

based at Dover Air Force Base in

Dover, Delaware Dover () is the capital and second-largest city of the U.S. state of Delaware. It is also the county seat of Kent County and the principal city of the Dover, DE, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Kent County and is part of ...

, the

349th Military Airlift Wing The '349th Air Mobility Wing'' is an Air Reserve Component of the United States Air Force. It is assigned to the Fourth Air Force, Air Force Reserve Command, stationed at Travis Air Force Base, California. The 349th AMW is an associate unit of ...

based at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, California, and the

440th Tactical Airlift Wing The 440th Airlift Wing is an inactive United States Air Force Reserve unit last assigned to Twenty-Second Air Force. It was last stationed at Pope Army Airfield, part of Fort Bragg in North Carolina. Mission The 440th Airlift Wing's mission i ...

based at General Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Balch retired in 1986. Awards he received include the

Legion of Merit The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. The decoration is issued to members of the eight ...

, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Outstanding Unit Award, the

Air Force Longevity Service Award The Air and Space Longevity Service Award (ASLSA) is a military award of the United States Air Force and United States Space Force established as the Air Force Longevity Service Award by Air Force General Order 60, on 25 November 1957 by General ...

, the Air Force Training Ribbon, and the

Vietnam Gallantry Cross The Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross also known as the Vietnamese Gallantry Cross or Vietnam Cross of Gallantry ( vi, Anh-Dũng Bội-Tinh) is a military decoration of the former Government of South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam). The medal wa ...

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Balch, Donald H. 1931 births 2007 deaths People from Bellows Falls, Vermont United States Air Force generals Recipients of the Legion of Merit Recipients of the Gallantry Cross (Vietnam) United States Air Force personnel of the Vietnam War University of Vermont alumni New England Law Boston alumni Burials at Arlington National Cemetery Road incident deaths in Texas Texas Republicans People from Bulverde, Texas