George John Balko

George Balko joined the Marine Corps in November, 1942. He received his basic training at Parris Island, and was then assigned to Company H, Second Separate Battalion which was forming at New River, North Carolina. Three months later, he was on his way across the country to Camp Pendleton, California, where his unit was re-designated as Second Battalion, 24th Marines. Private Balko was a member of the company headquarters – his primary position was that of company barber.

Balko had a few run-ins with his commanding officer while at Pendleton. He was thrown in the brig more than once for being absent over leave; his last offense, occurring in December 1943, saw him confined for more than two weeks – he was still technically in hack on February 13, when he and his company boarded the USS Elmore and sailed to the island of Roi-Namur. Private Balko participated in the fighting for Namur on February 1 – 2, 1944, and earned a promotion to Private First Class; when his company arrived at their rest camp on Maui a month later, they were disbanded and Balko was transferred to the
battalion headquarters.

For unknown reasons, Balko was transferred to Headquarters, First Battalion, 24th Marines on April 4. He served as their barber for the next year, participating in the battles of Saipan, Tinian, and Iwo Jima. When under fire, Balko was obviously not cutting hair but serving as a rifleman and general-duty Marine. He evidently was involved in some demolitions work on Iwo Jima, as his MOS was changed from 022 (barber) to 533 (demolitions specialist) in the summer of 1945.

Balko saw out the war with 1/24, and was honorably discharged. He returned to Connecticut, where he married and ran Balko’s Service Station between Ansonia and Seymour. Little else is known about his life after the war.

George Balko died on 23 August 1996.