Manion’s Auction to Host Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient During 2006 Show of Shows Medal of Honor winner Don Ballard will appear in conjunction with
Manion’s International Auction during the 2006 Ohio Valley Military Society’s
Show of Shows - a premier militaria event
News-Antique.com - Nov 30,-0001 - Kansas City, Ks. (February 20, 2006) – To most, throwing yourself on a live hand grenade could only happen in the movies. To Don Ballard, it’s something that happened personally as a Navy Corpsman during the Vietnam War.
While pulling Marines to safety from hostile fire, a hand grenade landed near the wounded. Without thinking, Ballard picked it up and threw it back. Minutes later another grenade was thrown into his position – this time Ballard threw himself upon the unexploded ordnance in an effort to save the lives of the wounded soldiers.
It did not detonate as he had expected, so Ballard rolled over and tossed the grenade away. Witnesses say it exploded out of harms way seconds later. For this selfless act of courage, Don Ballard received the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Ballard will be present during the 2006 Ohio Valley Military Society’s Show of Shows in conjunction with Manion’s International Auction House. The Show of Shows, February 23-26 at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center in Louisville, is one of the nation’s premier militaria events.
Ballard will be signing photos, and copies of two books in which he is featured - Doc: Platoon Medic and Medal of Honor: Portraits of Valor Beyond the Call of Duty – February 24th and 25th.
Manion’s International Auction House (www.manions.com) has brokered the sale of military collectibles since 1970, and will be conducting a live auction Friday night, February 24th. For more information on Manion’s International Auction House, visit www.manions.com and call 866.646.4664.
