John Henry Balch, a Pharmacist's Mate First Class with 3 Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, in the United States Marine Corps and United States Navy, displayed gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in France during World War I. At Vierzy on July 19, 1918, while serving with the 6th Regiment, U.S. Marines, he unhesitatingly and fearlessly exposed himself to terrific machinegun and high-explosive fire to aid wounded men as they fell in the attack, voluntarily leaving his dressing station and continuing this work all day and late into the night for 16 hours. At Somme-Py on October 5, 1918, he again showed exceptional bravery by establishing an advanced dressing station under heavy shellfire.