John Henry Balch John Henry Balch ( January 2 , 1896 – October 15 , 1980 ) was a United States Naval Reserve officer and a recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions in World War I . Education . Balch enlisted in the Navy in Kansas City , Missouri under an officers training program . Prior to his enlistment on May 26 , 1917 , he had been a student at Kansas State University . After the training program , he was assigned to the 3rd Battalion , 6th Marine Regiment and served in France during World War I . Military service . Prior to the actions in which he was subsequently awarded the Medal of Honor , Balch was involved in the Battle of Belleau Wood where he was wounded . On October 5 , 1918 , he showed exceptional bravery by establishing an aid station under intense fire . Acting as a Pharmacist ' s Mate , he was credited with carrying wounded Marines to safety and thereby saving their lives . On August 19 , 1919 , Balch received an honorable discharge as a Pharmacist ’ s Mate First Class . One - month later he was presented the Medal of Honor by Rear Admiral F . B . Bassett at the YMCA in Chicago , Illinois . In September 1942 , Balch rejoined the Navy as a lieutenant and served stateside as well as Australia and the Philippines before eventually retiring on June 1 , 1950 from the Naval Reserve with the rank of commander and one of the most decorated sailors in US Navy history . He is buried at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside , California . Medal of Honor citation . Rank and organization : Pharmacist ' s Mate First Class , U . S . Navy . Place and date : Vierzy , France , and Somme - Py , France , July 19 , and October 5 , 1918 . Entered service at : Kansas City , Mo . Born : January 2 , 1896 , Edgerton , Kansas Citation : … During the attack in the Bois - de - Belleau , Pharmacist ' s Mate Balch displayed conspicuous coolness under shell fire in evacuating wounded men . During the action near Vierzy , he worked unceasingly for sixteen hours , giving assistance to the wounded on a field torn by high explosive shells and covered by direct machine - gun fire . Near St . Etienne - aux - Arnes , he again gave proof of excellent judgment and courage in establishing an advance dressing station under violent shell and machine - gun fire , thereby saving many lives which would otherwise have been lost . … Pharmacist ' s Mate First Class Balch distinguished himself by gallantry in action while serving as a Corpsman attached to the Sixth Regiment ( Marines ) , 2d Division , American Expeditionary Forces , in action at Bois de Belleau , France . He was conspicuous for his coolness and the value of his work under shell fire , evacuating wounded men at the risk of his life , during our attack upon the enemy on the night of 6 June 1918 . Other notable decorations . … in action near Somme - Py , France , 5 October 1918 . Pharmacist ' s Mate First Class Balch displayed extraordinary heroism and bravery in using the best judgment in establishing an advanced aid station during the most intense shell fire , thereby enabling him and his fellow Corpsmen to take better care of the wounded and saving many of their lives . … distinguished himself by gallantry in action while serving as a Corpsman attached to the Sixth Regiment ( Marines ) , 2d Division , American Expeditionary Forces . Pharmacist ' s Mate First Class Balch displayed extraordinary heroism and bravery in action on 5 October 1918 , near St . Etienne - a - Arnes , France . Legacy . On 21 July 2005 , The Naval Health Clinic at Quantico , Virginia was renamed the John H . Balch Clinic .