Robert L. Blackwell

Infobox Military Person
name= Robert L. BLackwell
born= 1895
died= October 11 death year and age|1918|1895
placeofbirth= Person County, North Carolina
placeofdeath= St. Souplet, France
placeofburial=


caption=Medal of Honor recipient
allegiance= United States of America
branch= United States Army
serviceyears= 1917-1918
rank= Private
unit= K Company, 119th Infantry, 30th Division
battles= World War I
awards= Medal of Honor

Robert Lester Blackwell was an American soldier who was awarded the Medal of Honor during World War I. Little is known of his early life prior to entering the U.S. Army, other than that he was born in Person County, North Carolina around 1895, raised on a small farm, and that he entered the Army in Hurdle Mills, North Carolina.

He was assigned to Company K, 119th Infantry, 30th Division. He was the only soldier from North Carolina to be awarded the Medal of Honor for their service in the First World War.

He is buried in Somme American Cemetery and Memorial Somme Picardie, France.findagrave|Robert L. Blackwell Retrieved on 2007-12-05] His grave can be found in plaot D-20-2.findagrave|Robert L. Blackwell Retrieved on 2007-12-05]

Honors

A statue to honor his heroism stands today in Roxboro, North Carolina.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Private, U.S. Army, Company K, 119th Infantry, 30th Division. Place and date: Near St. Souplet, France, 11 October 1918. Entered service at: Hurdle Mills, N.C. Birth: Person County, N.C. G.O. No.: 13, W.D., 1919.

Citation:

:When his platoon was almost surrounded by the enemy and his platoon commander asked for volunteers to carry a message calling for reinforcements, Pvt. Blackwell volunteered for this mission, well knowing the extreme danger connected with it. In attempting to get through the heavy shell and machinegun fire this gallant soldier was killed.cite web
accessdate=2007-12-05
url = http://www.army.mil/cmh/html/moh/worldwari.html
title = Robert L. Blackwell, Medal of Honor recipient
work = World War I
publisher Army Medal of Honor website
date = July 16, 2007]

ee also

*List of Medal of Honor recipients
*List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War I

Notes

References

*findagrave|Robert L. Blackwell Retrieved on 2007-12-05
*cite web
accessdate=2007-12-05
url=http://www.homeofheroes.com/moh/states/nc.html
title=Medal Of Honor Citation for Robert L. Blackwell
publisher=HomeofHeroes.com
publisher=C. Douglas Sterner
date=
*cite web
accessdate=2007-12-05
url = http://www.army.mil/cmh/html/moh/worldwari.html
title = Robert L. Blackwell, Medal of Honor recipient
work = World War I
publisher Army Medal of Honor website
date = July 16, 2007
* [http://home.nc.rr.com/oldhickory/page1.htm#Blackwell MOH Citation]
* [http://www.rootsweb.com/~ncmil/medalofhonor.htm MOH]
* [http://www.rootsweb.com/~ncperson/blackwell-robert-l-bio.htm Brief Bio, Robert Lester Blackwell]
* [http://www.itpi.dpi.state.nc.us/counties/Person/Person/statue.html Person County NC Monument]
* [http://www.worldwar1.com/dbc/monument.htm Birthplace Marker]
* [http://www.worldwar1.com/dbc/photo/nc_blackwell.jpgMarker]

Persondata
NAME= Blackwell, Robert L.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= United States Army Medal of Honor recipient
DATE OF BIRTH=
PLACE OF BIRTH=
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=