Clarence Ernest Ballou

     Clarence Ernest Ballou was born on 7 September 1899 at Wendell, Massachusetts.^1,2 He was the son of William Herbert Ballou and Maude Nellie Stiles.^1,2 He enlisted 25 June 1916 at Camp Edwards in Framingham, Massachusetts. He was under 18 and his mother had to sign for him. From June 1916 to October 1917, he was stationed at Columbus, New Mexico mainly drilling and guarding prisoners. He was a member of Company E, 102^ed Infantry and while in New Mexico was reviewed by General Pershing. From 3 October 1917 to 3 June 1919, he was with the AEF in France. On 23 July 1918, he was gassed and shellshocked at Chateau-Thierry. He was discharged 6 June 1919 as a PFC at Camp Lee, Virginia.¹ Clarence Ernest Ballou was a policeman at Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida.¹ He was employed by the Jacksnville Police Force about 1930 at Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida. On 14 June 1930 at Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida, Clarence married Audrey Inez Herndon, daughter of Charles Herndon and Laura Grover. He met her while she was walking home from work and he was on his beat.^1,2,3 According to a family story, he was never allowed to visit his wife's family homestead in Brantly, Alabama, as his wife's grandfather lived there, and had faught in the Civil War, and would not allow a "Damn Yankee" on his property.¹ Clarence Ernest Ballou died on Wednesday, 29 September 1937 at Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida, at age 38 years and 22 days of pneumonia contracted after receiving sever injuries, including a fractured skull, from a motorcycle accident on 27 September 1937 while escorting the Governor of Florida traveling to a meeting.^1,2