Claudius Ballard facts for kids

Claudius Ballard (June 14, 1890 – May 1, 1967) was an important African-American doctor in Los Angeles, California. He was known for his brave service in World War I.

During the war, he was a medical officer with the 370th Infantry. He helped many soldiers on the battlefield. For his courage, he received the French Croix de Guerre medal. After the war, he became well-known in Los Angeles. He also wrote several articles about medicine.

Who Was Claudius Ballard?

Claudius Ballard was born on June 14, 1890. His parents were William L. Ballard and Mary Ester Tibbs. His family had a strong history in California.

A Family's Legacy in California

Claudius's grandfather, John Ballard, was born in 1829. He was a former slave from Kentucky. In the 1850s, John moved his family to California. After gaining freedom, John Ballard and about 4,000 other African Americans lived near the Santa Monica Mountains.

John helped create a strong African-American community there. A place called "Ballard Mountain" was named after his family. The Ballard family was already famous in Los Angeles. Claudius's grandfather, aunts, and uncles bought a lot of land. They used this land to build places for the community. John Ballard also helped start the area's first African Methodist Episcopal church.

Claudius's Education and Early Career

Claudius was an only child. He graduated from Los Angeles High School. Then, he went to the University of Southern California for college. After that, he studied medicine at the University of California, Berkeley. He finished medical school in 1913.

At just 24 years old, Ballard opened his own medical practice in Los Angeles. In 1914, he joined offices with a friend from medical school. They tried to create a permanent state medical society in Southern California. Ballard also started writing medical papers. One of his first was "The Pituitary, Its Function and Pathology" in April 1915. When the United States joined World War I, Ballard volunteered as a doctor. In 1917, he became a First Lieutenant in the Medical Reserve Corps.

Ballard's Military Service

Like many other doctors, Ballard went for training. He trained at Fort Des Moines Provisional Army Officer Training School. This camp was opened to train African-American men. Many African Americans wanted to volunteer for the war.

Serving in the 370th Infantry

After his training, First Lieutenant Ballard joined the 370th Infantry. This unit used to be the 8th Illinois National Guard. Other doctors like George Washington Antoine and Rufus Bacote were also part of this unit. Ballard worked as a surgeon.

In November 1918, Ballard was among the first African-American doctors to arrive in France. He was part of a full medical unit. Ballard was in charge of the Third Battalion. Their job was to help soldiers on the battlefield.

Bravery on the Battlefield

French forces were fighting hard against German forces. Medical officers like Ballard often went into the fighting zones. They gave first aid to wounded soldiers, even in dangerous situations. Ballard and his team would give anti-tetanus shots to prevent infections.

Ballard was recognized for his bravery. He was even injured during his service. But he refused to leave or get treated. Instead, he kept helping other wounded soldiers. Because of his amazing efforts, Ballard received the French Croix de Guerre medal in November 1918. This happened at Mont des Singes, near the Ailette River.

The French record of his award said: "General Rondeau... cites this Brigade Order. Lieut. Dr. Claudius Ballard of the 370th Regimental Infantry, U.S. During the operations of September 30 to October 18, 1918, he remained posted, although wounded, and administered aid to his comrades with an extraordinary devotion until his Battalion was relieved."

Ballard was honorably discharged from the army on February 21, 1919. He then moved back to Los Angeles to live with his father.

Life and Work After the War

When Ballard returned to Los Angeles, he became very well-known. Newspapers often wrote about his brave actions in the war. The California Eagle newspaper even published an article titled "After Its Victories" about his role.

Growing His Medical Practice

Ballard continued his medical practice. During the 1920s and 1930s, many people moved to California. This meant there was a great need for new ideas and services. Ballard's practice grew a lot. In the late 1930s, he was praised for his work. In the 1920s, he also served as the Secretary of the Physicians, Dentists, and Druggists Association of South Carolina. He kept writing articles for this group.

Community Involvement

When World War II began, Dr. Ballard returned to teach first aid. He taught at local high schools. People were worried about attacks from other countries. Dr. Ballard was famous in the medical world for his research. He also took quick action when there was a threat of disease.

He was a member of Sigma Pi Phi and helped start the local Xi Boule. He was also very active in many important organizations. These included the National Medical Association, the NAACP, the YWCP, the YWCA, and the Catholic Church. These groups ran many charity programs to help people.

In 1940, a Census record showed Ballard living in Los Angeles. He was 50 years old. He lived with his two sons, who were 19 and 15 years old.

Later Life and Family

Claudius Ballard died in May 1967. He was buried in Los Angeles at Calvary Cemetery. His gravestone says, "Awarded the Croix de Guerre medal in World War I. The medal recognized acts of bravery in the face of the enemy."

Ballard's Family Life

On March 5, 1921, Ballard married Miss May Lee Paine. She was from Rome, Georgia. They had two sons together. Their first son, Albert Lucky, was born on March 5, 1921. Their second son, Reginald, was born on November 21, 1924. Claudius and May separated before his death, and she outlived him.

Albert became an engineer and passed away in 2011. Reginald became a well-known person in Los Angeles. He was a captain in the Los Angeles Fire Department. He retired in 1978. He also became a successful real estate owner. Reginald was one of the family members who helped rename "Ballard Mountain." He had six children, including an educator named Ryan Ballard.