PVT. Blankenship , Paul Gray

Service number: 33652284

Age: 20

Born: March 6, 1925, Christiansburg, Montgomery County, Virginia

Hometown: Christiansburg, Montgomery County, Virginia

Family:

James Hensley Blankenship (father) not found on find a grave yet

Jessie May (nee Bryant) Blankenship (mother) not found on find a grave yet

James Marvin Blankenship (brother) memorial # 150280793

Freemon Allen Blankenship (brother)

Fred Ranyrey Blankenship (brother) memorial # 134551525

Ollie Madalene Blankenship/Hurst (sister) memorial # 133544355

Virginia Martha Blankenship (sister)

Teddy Daniel Blankenship (brother)

Robert "Bobby" Alvin Blankenship (brother) memorial# 57565049

Rank: Private

Function: Rifleman

Battalion: 38th Armored Infantry Battalion

Division: 7th Armored Division

Company: B Company

Date of death: October 8, 1944

Status: Missing In Action

Place of death: Overloon, Boxmeer Municipality, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands

Spot: Farm "Het Klaverblad" just north of A73 exit

Awards/Commendations

★ Bronze Star

★ Purple Heart

★ World War II Victory Medal

★ Combat Infantryman Badge

★ Marksmanship Badge

★ American Campaign Medal

★ Army Good Conduct Medal

★ European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign

Grave number: Walls of the Missing

Cemetery:

Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial

Margraten, Eijsden-Margraten Municipality, Limburg, Netherlands

Date of enlistment: June 14, 1943, Roanoke, Virginia

Other information: Pvt Paul G. Blankenship was killed on 7 October 1944. Since he went missing in action, his official date of death was set one year later.

The mission at that time was to clear the wooded area surrounding the town of St. Antonis. During this mission the company encountered enemy forces and was greatly scattered. When a physical check was made, the company found to have suffered many losses. It was assumed that the missing men had been either killed or captured by the enemy. Due to the tactical situation no search could be made at that time.

In November 1959, while installing a drainage ditch, the remains of Pvt Blankenship were found near a building on the farm "Het Klaverblad" Found with the remains were items of clothing and equipment and two identification tags.

His remains were transported to the United States and buried at the Sunset Cemetery in Christiansburg, Montgomery County, Virginia.

Memorial #57565043