When Jennifer Ballou jokes that she was a “squad leader” before she ever put on an Army uniform, she isn’t exaggerating. Growing up in northeastern Ohio as the oldest of six in a conservative Catholic family, she learned early what it meant to lead, care for others, and move fast if you wanted seconds at dinner.
The lessons learned at home would fuel her for what would come next in her life.
“Enlisting in the Army was a huge surprise to my family. They weren’t super excited about it, but I wanted to spread my wings,” Ballou told We Are The Mighty. “One of my coworkers enlisted in the Army, and when she came to talk to us about it, it felt like what I was supposed to do as soon as I heard about it… It was just a no-brainer for me.”
Three weeks after graduation from high school, she left for basic training.
“It was way more than I ever hoped it would be. From the very first day, I loved it. I thrived,” she recalled. “Although I never intended to go in and stay for 20-plus years, I wouldn’t change it. Where I am today is a result of that decision at 18 years old.”
Ultimately, she chose medical as her MOS and ended up working in dental. Though she admitted it wasn’t what she really wanted, it allowed her to be a more present mother once her kids came along and grew in a way she hadn’t imagined.
Though her first marriage ended in divorce, Ballou is open about how the experience helped her grow, even amid the heartache. She was young and still figuring her life out.
“After that, I was focused on being the best human I could be, the best young woman I could, while continuing to serve my country. Those were my focuses. And then of course I fell in love again, as one does,” she smiled.
Ballou met Staff Sgt. Edwardo Loredo in 2004 and admitted candidly that she wasn’t looking for another relationship. She was focused on raising her daughter and her career in the Army, but a friend wouldn’t let up about why she needed to meet “Eddie.”
After that first date, they kept in touch through his long deployment and were quickly married when he returned.
Their son came in the middle of his 15-month deployment, and he made it to the labor and delivery room with minutes to spare, still in his sweaty Army uniform.
Years later, they were both deployed in Afghanistan when Eddie was killed by an improvised explosive device (IED) attack in the Arghandab River Valley, Afghanistan. Ballou escorted his body back to the United States.
“I was a first sergeant and in the military, no matter what branch, rank matters. I was viewed as ‘First Sergeant,’ not ‘Jennifer: The widow of Eddie,’ and so I almost felt like I had to stay strong—not for that rank, but for that position, for my service,” Ballou shared.
“People would say, ‘I don’t know how you do it,’ or ‘You’re so strong.’ I didn’t feel strong at that time, but when I would look at my kids and just knew I had to be strong for them.”
When the Army tried to move her and her kids, she used her voice to implement a policy change that allows a dual surviving spouse to choose. She was handpicked as the Chief of Staff of the Army’s Survivor Advisory Working Group to help shape policy for the Army.
In the days after Eddie’s death, she thought about retiring from the Army and hanging up the uniform. But she didn’t.
“I found a new love of life and of purpose. It started out with the resilience program at Fort Bragg,” Ballou said. “The driving force for me has been keeping Eddie’s memory alive, but also knowing it’s not about me or us; it’s about this larger community that I’m blessed to be a part of and have a small influence on.”
While at Fort Bragg, Ballou built a resiliency program and became a certified yoga instructor and life coach, launching A Joyful Life—an organization that works with female veterans and spouses.
“One of my friends, Captain Charlie Plum, was a Vietnam prisoner of war, and he says adversity is a horrible thing to waste. I agree. Why let that defeat us? Let’s use it for something better on the other end,” she said.
Years after Eddie’s death, love found Ballou again. She married retired U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Omari Ballou, blending their families and starting a new chapter. In 2015, she retired, content to follow her husband and continue building her business. In 2022, she was selected as a Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program scholar at the George W. Bush Presidential Center.
Michael Rodriquez, the CEO of the Global War on Terror Memorial Foundation, saw a post about it on LinkedIn. After a call, he asked her to come on as the Gold Star fellow.
“I didn’t see that coming, and it was a hell yes for me,” Ballou laughed.
Years later, she is now the Chief of Staff and deeply involved in the planning of the memorial, which will be unveiled in November of 2028. They hope to do it on the anniversary of the first War on Terror KIA, Johnny Michael Spann.
“We will be honoring all of the groups of people who have served and sacrificed—the families, the canines that supported, the non–uniform-wearing men and women. Having been on both sides of deployments, it’s harder in so many ways to be the one at home,” she said. “The families give so much, and for so long that was dismissed or not acknowledged properly. This memorial is also for families.”
In just a few short months, Ballou is publishing her first book.
“It’s called ‘Own Your Resilience.’ It’s part memoir, part self-help. It shares my story and stories of men and women,” she explained. “I also have my own small business where I do yoga therapy and life coaching, and it shares client stories—how they have navigated adversity or struggle in their life and what they’ve done to come out stronger on the other side. I’m really proud and excited for that.”
Ballou hopes the readers will take the time to learn about the 23 people on the board working on the design for the Global War on Terrorism Memorial. Each has a unique story and tie to the community, ensuring that all voices are represented before the build and unveiling.
When she reflects on her life, the joyful moments and the ones filled with unimaginable grief, Ballou is confident it all led her to exactly where she’s meant to be.
To learn more about the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation, visit https://www.gwotmemorialfoundation.org.
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