The American Legion Family across California is mourning the loss of Ercie Paul Ball, a World War II and Korean War veteran. Ball went to heaven on March 14, 2026, at 99, leaving behind a legacy of leadership, devotion and unwavering commitment to his fellow veterans.
Born on Sept. 3, 1926, in Midway, Ky., Ball grew up in a large, faith‑centered family. He was just 15 when he heard the news of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Two years later, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, beginning a lifetime of service that would define him.
During World War II, Ball served with Fleet Logistics Support Squadron Two (VR‑2), Naval Air Transport Service, operating out of Alameda and Hawaii. He vividly remembered seeing the wreckage of Pearl Harbor on his first trip to Hawaii - an image that stayed with him for the rest of his life.
After leaving the Navy in 1947, Ball briefly joined the Legion and then returned to service during the Korean War, enlisting in the U.S. Army following the death of his older brother Hayward, He served as an artillery trainer at Camp Irwin.
Ball moved to Vallejo in 1976 and married his wife, Wanda, the following year. Together they built a blended family of six children and became deeply involved in community service, including decades of volunteer work with Rebuilding Together Solano County and the Lions Club as a District Governor.
But it was through The American Legion that Ball left one of his most enduring marks. A life member of Post 550, he was the 2025-2026 adjutant, a past post commander, and a trusted mentor to generations of Legionnaires. His leadership extended across the Department of California, where he served as past District 5 commander, past department vice commander for Area 1, past department sergeant‑at‑arms and past department membership chairman.
Ball’s guiding philosophy was simple: “Keep going. Don’t stop.” It was a motto he lived by, and one he passed on to countless veterans, volunteers and community members who looked to him for wisdom and encouragement.
Ball will be laid to rest at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery on April 14 at 9:30 a.m., followed by a celebration of life at the Vallejo Veterans Memorial Building at 420 Admiral Callaghan Lane.
The Department of California honors his memory and salutes Ball's lifetime of service. His name now joins the rolls of Post Everlasting,