Oral History Interview with Bob Balch, September 19, 2004 Page: 1

                                
National Museum of the Pacific War
Fredericksburg, Texas
Interview with Bob Balch, Sr.
This is Joe Litzelfelner. Today is September 19, year 2004. I am interviewing Mr. Bob
Balch. This interview is taking place at the Bush Gallery of the National Museum of the
Pacific War. Actually this interview is taking place at the Fredericksburg High School.
This interview is in support of the Center for Pacific War Studies, archives for the
National Museum of the Pacific War, Texas Parks and Wildlife, for the preservation of
historical information related to this cause.

Litzelfelner:
Mr. Balch:
Litzelfelner:
Mr. Balch:
Litzelfelner:
Mr. Balch:
Litzelfelner:
Mr. Balch:
Litzelfelner:
Mr. Balch:

Bob, when and where were you born?
I was born in Houston, Texas, August 24, 1925.
And who were your parents?
Joseph and Evie (or Evelyn) Balch.
Do you have any brothers and sisters?
I have two younger brothers, two older brothers, and three sisters. There was another boy
who died when he was eighteen months old, but there was a total of nine of us in the
family.
Were any of them in the service during World War II?
All except my brother was in Germany in the tank corps - he spent three years over in
Europe and he said he spent a whole winter watching the Leaning Tower of Pisa. His
gun was pointing right over it. My youngest brother was in the Marine Corps, went to
Korea in the First Marine Division, he died a couple of years ago, the brother next to me
was in the Navy also. He was on a DE, a destroyer escort. He was a motor mach
Did you go to high school in Houston?
Went to Jeff Davis High School, yeah. Went to Burbank...well, I started out in
Hamilton Alamo was the elementary school, Hamilton the junior high school, and then