BALLMAN, August Frederick

AUGUST FREDERICK BALLMAN

Torpedoman’s Mate First Class · Plankowner, USS Silversides (SS-236) · Lost with USS Dorado (SS-248), 12 Oct 1943

Born / Died	13 Nov 1916 / 12 Oct 1943, lost with Dorado
Service no.	223-20-34 (enlisted); O-201779 (officer)
Commissioning rate	TM1c (15 Dec 1941)
Silversides tenure	From 15 Dec 1941; departure not yet recorded
Patrols aboard	Not yet established
Final rate	Ensign
Other vessels	Dorado (SS-248)

Prewar (1916–1941)

August Ballman was born on 13 November 1916. In 1930 the family rented a home in Union, New Jersey, for $42amonthandownedaradio.HisfatherCharles(38)wasadruggist,andthehouseholdincludedhismotherTheresa(33)andhisbrothersCharles(11),Harry(7)andTheodore(1).Hisservicenumberfallsinthe223-blockassignedtotheThirdNavalDistrict(NewYork),whichfitsUnionratherthanSanDiego.By1940hewastwenty-threeandaTorpedomanFirstClassinthesubmarineservice,livinginSanDiegowithhiswifeEileen(20)ina$23 rental.

On Silversides (Dec 1941 – )

Ballman commissioned aboard *Silversides* on 15 December 1941 as TM1c. The enlisted records do not show when he left or how many patrols he made. He was later commissioned an Ensign with the officer service number O-201779, and his enlisted number closes at the commission.

Patrol table pending: departure date and patrols aboard not yet established.

Later War (1942–1943)

His brother Charles Joseph Ballman (service no. 223-56-73, MM2c) served in USS Wahoo and was detached to CSD 44 on 19 April 1943, the day Olin Jacobs joined her. Whether August was a plankowner of Dorado can be confirmed only from his OMPF.

Death (12 Oct 1943)

Ballman was lost with USS Dorado (SS-248) on 12 October 1943, a day after Wahoo was lost with Olin Jacobs. Charles, having left Wahoo in April, survived her loss as far as is known.

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Research Notes

• Name: August Frederick, from the Dorado casualty list on On Eternal Patrol. The Silversides table and plankowner index read “August F.,” a truncation.

• Enlisted-SN join: the join to Claims/ breaks at the commission (see warrant-officer-sn-break). Dorado plankowner status is OMPF-only.

• Open: departure date and ROC, patrols made, marriage to Eileen, birthplace.

• Source notes (carried over, verbatim):

  Full name is August Frederick Ballman (OEP Dorado casualty list) — the
  Silversides table / plankowner-index “August F.” is a truncation.

  Mustang. Enlisted SN 223-20-34 closed at his commission; officer number
  O-201779, ENS. Lost with USS Dorado (SS-248) 12 Oct 1943. Enlisted-SN join
  to Claims/ breaks at the commission — see warrant-officer-sn-break; Dorado
  plankowner status is OMPF-only.

  Brother: Charles Joseph Ballman (SN 223-56-73, MM2c) — USS Wahoo, detached to
  CSD 44 on 19 Apr 1943, the day Olin Jacobs joined Wahoo. Confirmed via the 1930
  census, Union NJ: father Charles (druggist), mother Theressa; sons August (13),
  Charles (11), Harry (7), Theodore (1). Both SNs are in the 223- New York / 3rd
  Naval District block (Union NJ, not San Diego). See Fate/223-56-73.md. August is
  lost with Dorado 12 Oct 1943 — one day after Jacobs is lost with Wahoo; Charles
  Joseph, having left Wahoo in April, survives it as far as is known.

  1930 Census Charles Ballman (38) and Theresa (33). August (13), Charles (11), Harry (7), and Theodore (1yr 2mo). Living in a $42rentalwitharadio.Charleswasadruggist.\ast \ast 1940Census\ast \ast AugustBallman(23)andEileenBallman(20).$23 rental. August is a torpedoman first class. Industry: US Navy Submarine.

Sources: 1930 and 1940 census; On Eternal Patrol (Dorado casualty list); Silversides muster.