George Jr., graduated from the College of Law of the State University of Iowa and joined his father's practice. He also was head of Johnson County and Ball Abstract Companies. In June 1905 he married Maude Hester Young. The couple would have 3 children, the youngest of which died in 1921, age 6, of polio.
George enlisted in I Company 50th Iowa Volunteer Infantry on 9 Jul 1900. He received his commission as 2LT on 3 Apr 1901. He was promoted to 1LT on 22 Jun 1903. George was again promoted to CPT on 9 May 1904 and appointed Commander I Company 54th Infantry Regiment, Iowa National Guard (apparently reorganized from the 50th). He was promoted to LTC on 10 May 1914 and was the regiment Executive Officer when the 54th became the 1st Infantry Regiment on 4 Jul 1915. The unit was mustered into service at Camp Dodge on on 26 Jun 1916 and mustered out of service on 15 Jan 1917. However, the United States would soon be involved in the war in Europe. COL Ball sailed to France as commander of the 133rd Infantry Regiment a part of the 34th Division on 28 Oct 1918. COL Ball returned to the United States in July 1919. Promoted to BG, he was assigned to the 175th Brigade of the 34th Division retiring before 1924.
BG Ball died on 3 Jan 1924 as a result of an automobile accident in which he fractured his pelvis and which, in turn, resulted in pulmonary thrombosis. He was buried in Oakland Cemetery in Iowa City, Iowa.
BG Ball was a life member of the National Rifle Association of America.
Great, great grandson of COL George Moffett, former commander of the Augusta County Regiment (an ancestral unit of the 116th Infantry Regiment). 3rd cousin once removed of former commander of the 116th Infantry Regiment, BG George Murrell Alexander.
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