TOP CHARACTER STRENGTHS

BRAVERY - HUMOR- APPRECIATION OF BEAUTY

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Edward Balli, 42, of Kapolei, Hawaii, was killed in action at Forward Operating Base Pasab, Afghanistan, on January 20, 2014, and assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Troop 2nd Cavalry Regiment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

His fellow soldiers described Chief Balli as an outstanding leader. He was a person with a kind heart and smile, who aimed to please those who he worked with. He was a very motivated person who loved his job as an Unmanned Aerial System Operations Officer Platoon Leader, providing eyes in the sky for those soldiers on the ground. Chief Balli was recognized for his unwavering commitment to his family and country.

Character Strength Stories:

Appreciation of Beauty - My dad taught me to appreciate beauty, especially in nature. He would often wake all of us kids up at zero dark thirty to pile all of us into the family car for a road trip, without telling us where we were going. He would always just say, "Don't worry about it." To this day I don't think he ever knew where he was going. We would end up at some amazing places like Yosemite, Redwood National Forest, or some random state park. It caused us to take pause and enjoy the beauty of nature and the company of loved one.

-Submitted by Michael, Surviving Son

Edward’s service was honored during the 2023 New Orleans Expedition.