Son of Alice L. Penick and John F. Blackburn. He was a four year graduate of Virginia Military Institute in 1943 and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on October 21, 1943, in the U.S. Army.
Research suggests that he was assigned to the 601st Tank Destroyer Battalion, which had landed in North Africa as a part of OPERATION TORCH and involved in several battles. The Battalion was re-equipped with M-10 Tank Destroyers and landed at Salerno in September 1943. The Battalion fought its way up the Italian boot and entered France in August 1944 and Germany in January 1945. Re-equipped with newer M-36 Tank Destroyers. By April, the Battalion had crossed the Rhine and began their fight to capture Nuremberg. Reportedly, that is the period when 2nd Lieutenant joined with the Battalion.
Apparently he was killed shortly (about a one week) after being assigned to the 601st, and only 21 days before the war's end. He was ambushed and killed during the battle of Nuremburg.
A brief account of the incident can be found in
American Knights: The Untold Story of the Men of the Legendary 601st Tank Destroyer Battalion, by Victor Failmezger.
(Thanks to Kevin White for his input and direction to the book)
Research suggests that he was assigned to the 601st Tank Destroyer Battalion, which had landed in North Africa as a part of OPERATION TORCH and involved in several battles. The Battalion was re-equipped with M-10 Tank Destroyers and landed at Salerno in September 1943. The Battalion fought its way up the Italian boot and entered France in August 1944 and Germany in January 1945. Re-equipped with newer M-36 Tank Destroyers. By April, the Battalion had crossed the Rhine and began their fight to capture Nuremberg. Reportedly, that is the period when 2nd Lieutenant joined with the Battalion.
Apparently he was killed shortly (about a one week) after being assigned to the 601st, and only 21 days before the war's end. He was ambushed and killed during the battle of Nuremburg.
A brief account of the incident can be found in
American Knights: The Untold Story of the Men of the Legendary 601st Tank Destroyer Battalion, by Victor Failmezger.
(Thanks to Kevin White for his input and direction to the book)
Son of Alice L. Penick and John F. Blackburn. He was a four year graduate of Virginia Military Institute in 1943 and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on October 21, 1943, in the U.S. Army.
Research suggests that he was assigned to the 601st Tank Destroyer Battalion, which had landed in North Africa as a part of OPERATION TORCH and involved in several battles. The Battalion was re-equipped with M-10 Tank Destroyers and landed at Salerno in September 1943. The Battalion fought its way up the Italian boot and entered France in August 1944 and Germany in January 1945. Re-equipped with newer M-36 Tank Destroyers. By April, the Battalion had crossed the Rhine and began their fight to capture Nuremberg. Reportedly, that is the period when 2nd Lieutenant joined with the Battalion.
Apparently he was killed shortly (about a one week) after being assigned to the 601st, and only 21 days before the war's end. He was ambushed and killed during the battle of Nuremburg.
A brief account of the incident can be found in
American Knights: The Untold Story of the Men of the Legendary 601st Tank Destroyer Battalion, by Victor Failmezger.
(Thanks to Kevin White for his input and direction to the book)
Research suggests that he was assigned to the 601st Tank Destroyer Battalion, which had landed in North Africa as a part of OPERATION TORCH and involved in several battles. The Battalion was re-equipped with M-10 Tank Destroyers and landed at Salerno in September 1943. The Battalion fought its way up the Italian boot and entered France in August 1944 and Germany in January 1945. Re-equipped with newer M-36 Tank Destroyers. By April, the Battalion had crossed the Rhine and began their fight to capture Nuremberg. Reportedly, that is the period when 2nd Lieutenant joined with the Battalion.
Apparently he was killed shortly (about a one week) after being assigned to the 601st, and only 21 days before the war's end. He was ambushed and killed during the battle of Nuremburg.
A brief account of the incident can be found in
American Knights: The Untold Story of the Men of the Legendary 601st Tank Destroyer Battalion, by Victor Failmezger.
(Thanks to Kevin White for his input and direction to the book)
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VA 2nd Lt. Field Artillery, WWII
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