Salvatore Balletto: Veteran of the Month | November 2024
Born in 1942 as the son of an Italian immigrant, Balletto grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. His father was from Sicily, and his mother was from Ohio. After graduating from John Adams High School, he became interested in cars. He started building and racing cars on the track at Dragway 42 in Ohio. He described his favorite car, saying, “It was a 1955 Chevy with an Oldsmobile v8 engine and a hydromatic 4-speed transmission, and the engine and transmission were built for strictly drag racing. “Unfortunately, it was a hobby that quickly became expensive, and he realized to be competitive, he would need a sponsor, so Balletto shifted gears and enrolled at Kent State University. Four years later, he had earned his Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in mathematics with a minor in psychology.
Balletto didn’t have much time to plan his next move, though. Days after graduation, he received a draft letter from the United States Army. “Ten days after I graduated from Kent State University, I got a letter saying ‘Welcome to the United States Army,'” he recalls with a laugh. While everyone assumed he would be deployed to Vietnam like so many others, his unique skills in advanced mathematics and proficiency in German directed him toward a different opportunity. During his college years, he conducted research in advanced mathematics, much of which was written in German. Although he admits that he now struggles to read his notes from that period, he once navigated both spoken and written German fluently.
Balletto completed his basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, but the Army had different plans for him afterward. Instead of being assigned to a regular unit, he was sent to the Army Intelligence School for four months. This rare opportunity requires an extensive background check on Balletto and all of his close associates.
Once he completed his schooling for the Army, Balletto was sent to Berlin, which at the time was known as the “Spy capital of the world,” he stated.
When asked about what he did while in Berlin, he stated, “We are getting into an area I can’t discuss in detail.” He did say he worked all over Western Europe, wherever they would send him. Balletto explained, “I went to different countries, lived in different settings, and I never wore a uniform after I graduated from the Army Intelligence School.” He explained that he always had to keep a low profile, which required him to constantly change his routes to avoid being tracked or taken hostage.
Balletto explained that they were very careful about where they sent him. He never wore a uniform after basic training and had no pictures taken of him from his time in the Army for security purposes and the danger associated with his position.
During his time in Europe, he rented rooms from influential political figures or police officers for security reasons. For two years, he moved frequently, spending time in the Netherlands, West Germany, and several other countries. As a result of his efforts, he received promotions and was granted permission to carry a concealed firearm due to concerns that he could be taken hostage because of his knowledge. However, he noted that the nature of his work meant that awards and promotions were handled quite differently. Balletto recalled, “In a way, it was very rewarding, but I had to be more cautious than most people.”
After his honorable discharge in 1970, he was debriefed by the Army about what he could and couldn’t discuss. However, he admitted, “My knowledge today is very antiquated.”
While stationed in Europe, he dated a German girl named JoAnna. However, he soon discovered that his superiors disapproved of her family history, which was linked to the Nazis. Balletto recalled being summoned to a Colonel’s office, where he was told, “You have to stop dating her.” He recalled, “A full bird Colonel called me to his office and knew everything about this girl down to the toothbrush she used and told me I had to stop dating her.”
After his discharge from the military, JoAnna followed him to the United States and called him at home, asking to visit. They dated for a short time in the U.S., which was permitted after his discharge. Balletto even invited her to California with him, as he had been accepted into a graduate program at UCLA for mathematics and psychology. Ultimately, the relationship did not work out, and JoAnna returned to Germany. Balletto mentioned that although he had his share of relationships, none progressed to the level of marriage.
After returning to civilian life, Balletto worked as an auditor for a theater company. He would conduct surprise audits of theater operations for a national organization, visiting venues in California and Arizona to inspect their operations. He worked in this role for a couple of years, but, as one might expect, many people are not fond of being audited. As a result, the General Manager wrote him a glowing letter of recommendation, gave him a substantial bonus for a job well done, and kindly asked him to leave. Balletto remarked, “If they weren’t doing anything wrong, they had nothing to fear, but that wasn’t always the case.”
Balletto realized that working for others would not lead to success, so he chose to work for himself. He launched several businesses, stating, “I moved to San Diego, and I have had three successful businesses here.” He founded Avatar Vending and Distribution, managed various properties he owned in California, and operated a sporting goods store in Oceanside called Love Sports. Although he eventually sold two of these businesses, he still continues to work today. “When you are self-employed, you work harder for yourself than you ever will for someone else, and it always stays with you, to a degree, mentally.” He added, “As a self-employed person, you never really leave your business, but that’s part of the price of success.”
Balletto’s experiences in military intelligence may not have directly translated into his civilian career, but he took away a valuable skill—the ability to build trust. “I do have a way of people developing trust in me,” he reflects, noting that this was the only significant aspect that carried over into his civilian life.
Given the sensitive nature of Ballettos’ work, many details remain undisclosed. When asked about significant moments from his time in military intelligence, all he could share was, “There were several instances where I was in danger, but none that can be shared or discussed.”
Veterans Care Coordination is proud to recognize Salvatore Balletto Cox for his service to our country. We are privileged to have the opportunity to share the stories of our nation’s heroes. Thank you for your service, Salvatore, and welcome home.
