Arthur Wyman Ball

Shipfitter 3rd Class
USS GENESEE (AOG-8), TASK FORCE 73, 7TH FLEET
United States Navy
11 February 1948 - 23 April 1968
De Kalb, Texas
Panel 51E Line 035

7TH FLEET

Purple Heart, National Defense, Vietnam Service, Vietnam Campaign

The database page for Arthur Wyman Ball

22 Dec 1998

I remember Arthur W. Ball. I remember when he reported aboard the AOG-8. He called himself "Jerry".

He was a good sailor and a solid shipmate. He died at his battle station on 23 April 1968.

To this day I still remember him and am proud to have served with him. In my heart he will always remain a shipmate.

He is forever twenty.

Jerry's family can reach me if they wish.

A memorial from a friend,
Ronald V Bravo
bravsguns51@nwinfo.net

20 June 2002

He was a man who would lay it all down for Family, Friend or Country.
I am proud to say he is my brother. He gave his very life so others
can live theirs freely.

From his sister,
Jean Moreau
E-mail may be forwarded via the
Webmaster@VirtualWall.org

03 September 2002

I was the last person to speak to Ball the night he died.
He was coming across the catwalk and I was on fire watch.
He looked up and ask me if he was ready to go.
He was being sent home in two days as his time in the Navy was up.
I told him he was ready to go and then we came under attack.
He died dogging down the hatch he walked through after he left me.

Russell H. Waddell, YNC USN (Ret)
USS GENESEE 1967 - 1969
401 2nd Avenue SW, Greta Falls, MT
wadsquad8@mcn.net

13 Aug 2005

Art was a good friend and a good shipmate. The night he died he actually pushed me out of the way, to secure the door. It was then that he was mortally wounded. He died in my arms. I shall never forget him as long as I live.

From a shipmate,
Bryan Bucci
bfbucci@shawlink.ca

Notes from The Virtual Wall

USS GENESEE (AOG-8) was commissioned in 1943, serving in World War II and in Korea. Small by modern standards, the 4,100 ton gasoline tanker was well-suited for coastal and river operations in Vietnam. Her first deployment to Vietnam was in the early spring of 1965, and she made five more deployments to Southeast Asia over the next five years.

In April 1968 GENESEE got caught up the Cua Viet River at low tide and came under very heavy enemy fire. The shelling continued most of the night and the GENESEE was extensively damaged. SF3 Ball was killed during the attack. Afterwards, GENESEE steamed under her own power to Subic Bay where she was in dry dock for 41 days undergoing repairs.

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USS GENESEE (AOG-8)



The point-of-contact for this memorial is
a friend,
Ronald V Bravo
bravsguns51@nwinfo.net



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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Memorial first published on 22 Dec 1998
Last updated 11/07/2007