Balls was a great American through and through. He was many things…a true patriot, a great friend, a mentor, a dedicated father and husband, top-notch Naval Aviator, an Landing Signals Officer (LSO), a brave leader, a fearless competitor, wickedly funny, a fierce defender of honor, a lover of life… he was an exemplary role model! It is hard to imaging losing such a light in this world. Erik lived larger than life but did so with a self-deprecating humility that made him even more endearing to those he impacted.
Some of my earliest memories of Balls were from our time in the VAQ-135 Black Ravens together. Balls was my mentor in the “Fleet”. He gave me my callsign and immediately took me under his wing. He modeled how to really fly and fight the jet (EA-6B Prowler). Balls had complete control of the aircraft and could make it do wonderful and impressive things, he elevated the entire squadron to higher performance standards that set the tone for us in the Air Wing and across the Prowler community…by Erik’s lead, we were the best in the air, behind the “boat” and in the O’Club.
Balls was a leader. He took a keen interest in keeping others safe and making them better. As the lead Squadron LSO, he kept us safe day and night, in good and bad weather, through combat and in emergency. It was Erik who cultivated my deep love of waving (the act of LSO’s talking aircraft onto the aircraft carrier safely) that ultimately lead to AIRLANT LSO, the highlight of my military career.
Later in life, Erik and I would reconnect again in the defense industry. Balls had been working for ATK for over a decade when I had retired from the Navy and was working for Lockheed Martin. It was Balls who sought me out for a position at ATK. At first, I was reticent to accept a position as I enjoyed the challenge and people at Lockheed, but Balls persevered. He spoke so passionately about the atmosphere mission and people at ATK that I took the leap of faith. I have been at ATK, now Northrop Grumman for eight years now; it is the perfect fit just as Balls had said.
Christina, Zack, Josh and Alex, thank you for sharing your husband and father with the rest of us. He was a good man and great example for us all. He helped mentor me and chart the path of my life. I will never forget Balls, for his friendship, his leadership and his uncanny ability to make the difficult easy and the stressful less so with his quick wit and infectious smile.
This world is richer for Erik having lived well in it. Go rest high on that mountain Balls. Fair winds and following seas my friend!
-Moose
Ken Masson