Major Ballenger Home From Uncle Sam's Overseas Service, June 6, 1919

From the Polk County News and Tryon Bee, June 6, 1919

Major Ballenger Given Discharge and Returns Home

Major E.G. Ballenger, who went into Uncle Sam’s “overseas” service with Atlanta’s organization the Emory Hospital unit, has arrived at his home in this city after having received his discharge at Camp Dix, N.J.

Major Ballenger is one of the most prominent physicians in Atlanta and he will resume his professional work at once.

Dr. Ballenger left Atlanta with the Emory unit, but in a short time he was detached from that organization, being sent to the 26^th division. He saw service on the front for many months and was in the lines at Verdun when the armistice was signed. Afterwards Dr. Ballenger was transferred to the 7^th corps and served as neurologist for that organization until his return to America a few days ago on the steamship Victoria.

In speaking of his experiences in Germany where he was stationed at many points with the army of occupation, Dr. Ballenger said he had traveled over Germany to a large extent, visiting among other cities Coblenz and Treves, where many of the American boys are serving.

“Upon arriving in New York, many people asked me regarding the popularity of President Wilson among the nations represented at Paris and many of them have an idea that the President’s lack of popularity was attributable to his personality or to his failing to measure up to the right standard, but thinking people who have been on the ground readily recognize that whatever unpopularity our president suffers among the European nations is not from his failing to do the right thing for the common good of the world but because he listens neither to France, England, Italy or Germany, but steers a course that bodes good for all peoples. We should not judge President Wilson’s work at the peace conference by his popularity or his lack of it among the nations gathered at the peace table,” said Major Ballenger.