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Honoring a Hero: Medal of Honor Dinner with Donald 'Doc' Ballard at Post 655
Honoring a Hero: Medal of Honor Dinner with Donald 'Doc' Ballard at Post 655
On February 3rd, 2026, Donald N. Thompson American Legion Post 655 will host a Medal of Honor Dinner featuring one of our nation's living heroes: Donald "Doc" Ballard. This American Legion event brings our community together to honor a man whose courage under fire represents the very best of military service and sacrifice.
For those in the Haltom City area and beyond, this dinner offers a rare opportunity to hear firsthand from a Medal of Honor recipient and to share a meal in a space dedicated to honoring all who have served.
Who Is Donald "Doc" Ballard?
Who Is Donald "Doc" Ballard?
Donald Everett Ballard earned the Medal of Honor: the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government: for actions that took place on May 16, 1968, during the Vietnam War.
Serving as a Navy Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class attached to Company M of the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, Ballard found himself in the middle of an intense firefight. What happened next would define his legacy and earn him a place among America's most decorated service members.
During the engagement, an enemy grenade landed near a group of wounded Marines that Ballard was treating. Without hesitation, he threw himself on the grenade to shield his fellow servicemen from the blast. When the grenade failed to detonate, Ballard retrieved it and threw it to safety: just before it exploded.
He then returned to his duties, continuing to provide medical care to wounded Marines while still under enemy fire.
President Richard M. Nixon presented Ballard the Medal of Honor at a White House ceremony on May 14, 1970. The citation reads as a testament to selfless courage: the willingness to sacrifice one's own life so that others might live.
A Career of Continued Service
A Career of Continued Service
Doc Ballard's service did not end in Vietnam. Following his time as a Navy Corpsman, he went on to serve 30 years in the Kansas Army National Guard, eventually rising to the rank of Colonel before retiring in 2000.
His contributions have been recognized repeatedly:
Kansas National Guard Hall of Fame – Inducted in 2001
Only living Kansas Guardsman to have received the Medal of Honor
National Medical War Memorial – A memorial statue depicting his heroic actions stands in Kansas City
Today, Ballard remains actively involved in veterans' affairs and regularly speaks at American Legion events and gatherings across the country. His message of service, sacrifice, and community continues to inspire new generations.
Medal of Honor Dinner Details
Medal of Honor Dinner Details
Date: Monday, February 3rd, 2026
Location: Donald N. Thompson American Legion Post 655, Haltom City, Texas
Event: Medal of Honor Dinner honoring Donald "Doc" Ballard
This dinner brings together veterans, active-duty military, families, and community members for an evening of remembrance and celebration. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from Doc Ballard himself and to pay tribute to all Medal of Honor recipients.
The evening will include a catered dinner prepared by our team, with the Post's hall set up to accommodate this special occasion. For those who have attended past events at Post 655, you know what to expect: good food, good company, and a setting that honors the purpose of the gathering.
For more information about the dinner and how to attend, visit our events page.
About the Venue at Post 655
About the Venue at Post 655
Our hall at Donald N. Thompson American Legion Post 655 serves as the backdrop for this Medal of Honor dinner and many other community gatherings throughout the year.
Located in Haltom City, the venue offers a versatile space suitable for events of various sizes. From veterans' ceremonies to family celebrations, the hall has hosted countless gatherings over the years.
Venue features include:
Spacious main hall with flexible seating arrangements
Full kitchen facilities for catered events
Accessible location in Haltom City
On-site support from Post members
Atmosphere that reflects our commitment to service and community
For those attending the Medal of Honor dinner, you'll see firsthand how the space transforms for special occasions. The hall accommodates formal dinners, ceremonies, receptions, and community events with equal ease.
Hall Rental and Catering Services
Hall Rental and Catering Services
Post 655 makes our hall available for rental to the community. Whether you're planning a family reunion, birthday celebration, memorial service, or corporate event, our event venue in Haltom City offers a meaningful setting with history and character.
Our catering services handle the food so you can focus on your guests. From buffet-style meals to plated dinners, we work with you to create a menu that fits your event and budget.
Interested in booking? Visit our rental information page or submit a rental request to get started.
When you rent our American Legion hall, you're also supporting the programs and services that Post 655 provides to veterans and the community. Every rental helps fund scholarships, youth programs like Boys State, and ongoing support for local veterans.
The Medal of Honor Legacy
The Medal of Honor Legacy
The Medal of Honor has been awarded to fewer than 3,500 individuals since its creation during the Civil War. Recipients like Doc Ballard represent extraordinary valor: actions taken above and beyond the call of duty, often at great personal risk.
As of today, there are fewer than 70 living Medal of Honor recipients. Each one carries a legacy that belongs not just to them, but to all Americans.
Events like this dinner serve an important purpose. They connect us to living history. They remind us of the cost of freedom. And they give us the chance to say thank you: in person: to those who have given so much.
How to Get Involved with Post 655
How to Get Involved with Post 655
The Medal of Honor Dinner is one of many American Legion events hosted at Post 655 throughout the year. Our programs serve veterans, military families, and the broader community through scholarships, youth initiatives, and direct support.
Ways to participate:
Attend events – Check our events calendar for upcoming gatherings
Become a member – Learn about membership eligibility and benefits
Donate – Support our mission through the donation page
Rent our hall – Host your own event while supporting veterans' programs
Post 655 is named after Donald N. Thompson, and we carry forward his legacy through service to those who have served. Our mission centers on veterans' advocacy, community engagement, and preserving the memory of those who have sacrificed.
Mark Your Calendar
Mark Your Calendar
February 3rd, 2026 – Medal of Honor Dinner with Donald "Doc" Ballard at Donald N. Thompson American Legion Post 655.
This is an evening you won't want to miss. Join us as we honor a true American hero and gather as a community united by service and sacrifice.
For updates and additional event information, visit alpost655.org or follow our news page.
We look forward to seeing you there.
NEWS FROM VETERANS DAY EVENT 2025
POST 655 IN THE NEWS
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
We have chosen action’: First Black cemetery in Tarrant County is rededicated
By Lillie Davidson
The first Black cemetery in Tarrant County, home to the remains of more than 500 veterans, was rededicated on Veterans Day after a months-long restoration effort. The New Trinity Cemetery, located near the intersection of Northeast 28th and Beach streets in Haltom City, has existed since the 1880s, said Chad Page, the commander of American Legion Post 655. At the time, it was the only cemetery in the county where Black people could be buried, Page said.
It later became the final resting place for veterans of both World Wars, the Vietnam War, and the Korean War, said Kyev Tatum, a Fort Worth pastor affiliated with the restoration project. Tatum initially visited the cemetery in an attempt to locate the grave of Florence Marie Rawls, an Army veteran who served in the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion during World War II. In order to find Rawls’ grave, Tatum said he started at one corner of the cemetery and walked through, row by row. “We were kicking over weeds and things so we could read ... it appeared as if every other marker was a marker of someone who had served in the United States military,” Tatum said.
Later on, Page contacted Tatum about the possibility of beginning restoration work on the cemetery, Tatum said. Restoration work on the project was conducted by the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office’s Labor Detail Unit, Deputy Kelley Jenkins said. The program allows people convicted of crimes in the county to serve their sentences through manual labor instead of jail time, Jenkins said. Prior to the large-scale restoration project, members of the program came to the cemetery twice a year to clean up patches at a time, Page said. Jenkins was the one to collect research and sell the idea of a more comprehensive restoration effort. One man who worked on the restoration was so proud of his work, Jenkins said, that he later returned with his children to show them.
In the future, Page and Tatum said they hope other community members will step up to keep the restoration effort going. “Is it enough to stand for the anthem and sit for the story?” Page said. “Or do we owe something more, something that looks like action, like service, remembrance that rolls up its sleeves? Here at New Trinity, we have chosen action.” This story was originally published November 11, 2025 at 9:58 PM.
Read more at: https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/article312880681.html#storylink=cpy
News From 2025
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