Corporal Ballinger was a member of the 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. He was seriously wounded by the enemy in South Korea on 15 March 1951 and returned to duty on 19 March 1951. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in North Korea on 22 July 1951.

Ballinger was awarded the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Korean War Service Medal.