John Thomas "Jack" Blackburn was born in Columbus, Ohio on January 7, 1920 to Thomas and Jessie (nee Rose) Blackburn. He attended Linden Elementary School and Indianola Junior High in Columbus. A graduate of North High School, he loved opera and baseball. He began further studies at the Ohio State University but left to join the US Navy at age 19. After enlisting, he played second base on the ship's baseball team, batting .400.
Jack was serving on the battleship USS Utah when it was targeted by a surprise Japanese raid on the U.S. Pearl Harbor base in Hawaii on Sunday, December 7, 1941. Five of eight U.S. battleships were sunk or sinking, with the rest damaged by the raid. Several other ships and most Hawaii-based combat planes were also knocked out with 2,402 Americans dead and 1,282 wounded. Sadly, Jack did not survive, nor was he recovered, and remains entombed on the ship. He was just 21 years old.
Later, his commanding officer wrote to the family stating Jack had died a hero. The officer shared that Jack had a chance to save himself but stuck to his post until it was too late.
Reportedly, Jack was Columbus' first World War II casualty. He received a Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the American Defense Service Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and the WW II Victory Medal for his service.
The Blackburn Recreation Center on Columbus' southeast side and the nearby Blackburn Park playground was named in Jack's honor. The Blackburn House residence hall at the Ohio State University is also named for him.
Some of the above information was gleaned from the Columbus Dispatch article commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack.
Jack was serving on the battleship USS Utah when it was targeted by a surprise Japanese raid on the U.S. Pearl Harbor base in Hawaii on Sunday, December 7, 1941. Five of eight U.S. battleships were sunk or sinking, with the rest damaged by the raid. Several other ships and most Hawaii-based combat planes were also knocked out with 2,402 Americans dead and 1,282 wounded. Sadly, Jack did not survive, nor was he recovered, and remains entombed on the ship. He was just 21 years old.
Later, his commanding officer wrote to the family stating Jack had died a hero. The officer shared that Jack had a chance to save himself but stuck to his post until it was too late.
Reportedly, Jack was Columbus' first World War II casualty. He received a Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the American Defense Service Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and the WW II Victory Medal for his service.
The Blackburn Recreation Center on Columbus' southeast side and the nearby Blackburn Park playground was named in Jack's honor. The Blackburn House residence hall at the Ohio State University is also named for him.
Some of the above information was gleaned from the Columbus Dispatch article commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack.
John Thomas "Jack" Blackburn was born in Columbus, Ohio on January 7, 1920 to Thomas and Jessie (nee Rose) Blackburn. He attended Linden Elementary School and Indianola Junior High in Columbus. A graduate of North High School, he loved opera and baseball. He began further studies at the Ohio State University but left to join the US Navy at age 19. After enlisting, he played second base on the ship's baseball team, batting .400.
Jack was serving on the battleship USS Utah when it was targeted by a surprise Japanese raid on the U.S. Pearl Harbor base in Hawaii on Sunday, December 7, 1941. Five of eight U.S. battleships were sunk or sinking, with the rest damaged by the raid. Several other ships and most Hawaii-based combat planes were also knocked out with 2,402 Americans dead and 1,282 wounded. Sadly, Jack did not survive, nor was he recovered, and remains entombed on the ship. He was just 21 years old.
Later, his commanding officer wrote to the family stating Jack had died a hero. The officer shared that Jack had a chance to save himself but stuck to his post until it was too late.
Reportedly, Jack was Columbus' first World War II casualty. He received a Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the American Defense Service Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and the WW II Victory Medal for his service.
The Blackburn Recreation Center on Columbus' southeast side and the nearby Blackburn Park playground was named in Jack's honor. The Blackburn House residence hall at the Ohio State University is also named for him.
Some of the above information was gleaned from the Columbus Dispatch article commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack.
Jack was serving on the battleship USS Utah when it was targeted by a surprise Japanese raid on the U.S. Pearl Harbor base in Hawaii on Sunday, December 7, 1941. Five of eight U.S. battleships were sunk or sinking, with the rest damaged by the raid. Several other ships and most Hawaii-based combat planes were also knocked out with 2,402 Americans dead and 1,282 wounded. Sadly, Jack did not survive, nor was he recovered, and remains entombed on the ship. He was just 21 years old.
Later, his commanding officer wrote to the family stating Jack had died a hero. The officer shared that Jack had a chance to save himself but stuck to his post until it was too late.
Reportedly, Jack was Columbus' first World War II casualty. He received a Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the American Defense Service Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and the WW II Victory Medal for his service.
The Blackburn Recreation Center on Columbus' southeast side and the nearby Blackburn Park playground was named in Jack's honor. The Blackburn House residence hall at the Ohio State University is also named for him.
Some of the above information was gleaned from the Columbus Dispatch article commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack.
Gravesite Details
This memorial shows the marker erected at the USS Utah Memorial in honor of those who died in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
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