Donald E . Ballard Donald Everett Ballard ( born December 5 , 1945 ) is a retired American colonel in the Kansas National Guard and former member of the United States Navy , in which he was a Hospital Corpsman in the Vietnam War and received the Medal of Honor . Biography . Ballard was born in Kansas City , Missouri and it was there that he enlisted in the United States Navy . Sent to Vietnam , Ballard served as a corpsman in the Quang Tri province with Company M , 3rd Battalion , 4th Marines ( Mike 3 / 4 ) of the 3rd Marine Division . On May 16 , 1968 , Ballard treated two Marines suffering from heat exhaustion , and when returning to his unit from the casualty evacuation helicopter pad he and his company were attacked by the North Vietnamese Army . While under fire , Ballard directed aid to other wounded US Marines and when a grenade landed nearby , he lay on top of it to protect the wounded . The grenade failed to explode and Ballard was able to throw it away to explode harmlessly , and then continue to treat the wounded . For his actions , he received the United States of America ' s highest award , the Medal of Honor . After having left the Navy the previous year , Ballard received the Medal of Honor from President Richard M . Nixon and General Westmoreland 1970 . He then enlisted in Army officer candidate school . Westmoreland offered Ballard a direct commission , however Ballard turned it down for personal reasons . Ballard later joined the Kansas National Guard in 1973 , and served as an ambulance platoon leader , company commander , and was tasked with creating the new ' Medical Detachment 5 ' , a unit which performs medicals on Guard members in order to save the cost of contracting outside medical help , and of which he was the first member and commander . On April 5 , 1998 , Ballard was promoted to colonel by Major General James F . Reuger and served as Special Assistant to the Adjutant General until his retirement in 2000 . Inducted into the National Guard Hall of Fame in November 2001 , Ballard is the only living Kansas Guardsman to have received the Medal of Honor . He is also the subject of a memorial statue at the National Medical War Memorial in Kansas City , depicting Ballard during the action for which he received the Medal of Honor . Medal of Honor citation . Rank and organization : Hospital Corpsman Second Class , United States Navy , Company M , 3rd Battalion , 4th Marines , 3rd Marine Division . Place and date : Quang Tri Province , Republic of Vietnam , May 16 , 1968 . Entered service at : Kansas City , Mo . Born : December 5 , 1945 , Kansas City , Mo . Citation : For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life and beyond the call of duty while serving as a HC2c . with Company M , in connection with operations against enemy aggressor forces . During the afternoon hours , Company M was moving to join the remainder of the 3d Battalion in Quang Tri Province . After treating and evacuating 2 heat casualties , HC2c . Ballard was returning to his platoon from the evacuation landing zone when the company was ambushed by a North Vietnamese Army unit employing automatic weapons and mortars , and sustained numerous casualties . Observing a wounded marine , HC2c . Ballard unhesitatingly moved across the fire swept terrain to the injured man and swiftly rendered medical assistance to his comrade . HC2c . Ballard then directed 4 marines to carry the casualty to a position of relative safety . As the 4 men prepared to move the wounded marine , an enemy soldier suddenly left his concealed position and , after hurling a hand grenade which landed near the casualty , commenced firing upon the small group of men . Instantly shouting a warning to the marines , HC2c . Ballard fearlessly threw himself upon the lethal explosive device to protect his comrades from the deadly blast . When the grenade failed to detonate , he calmly arose from his dangerous position and resolutely continued his determined efforts in treating other marine casualties . HC2c . Ballard ' s heroic actions and selfless concern for the welfare of his companions served to inspire all who observed him and prevented possible injury or death to his fellow marines . His courage , daring initiative , and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of extreme personal danger , sustain and enhance the finest traditions of the U . S . Naval Service .