William Harris Ball was born on February 6, 1910, in Saginaw, Saginaw County, Michigan. He was the son of William Henry Ball and Edith Vilitta Harris Ball. He was married to Frances E. Rose Luby. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Class of 1933. He served in the US Army as a Major during World War II.

After the fall of Bataan in the hands of the Japanese Army on April 9, 1942, Maj Ball was one of the 10,000 to 12,000 Americans who were forced to march over 60 miles under brutal conditions, resulting in 1,000 to 5,000 deaths due to starvation, dehydration, and abuse. Survivors were sent to Camp O'Donnell, where dire conditions, including overcrowding, malnutrition, and disease, caused an additional 1,500 to 2,300 American deaths within weeks. Those who survived faced ongoing hardships, including transfers to other camps and forced labor, where many continued to suffer or die.

Maj Ball was among the American soldiers who lost their lives in captivity on May 20, 1942. He is now buried in the Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno, San Mateo County, California, USA.Source of information: www.livescience.com