Robert L. Blackwell

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Robert L. BLackwell
1895 – October 11, 1918
Robert L. BLackwell, Medal of Honor recipient
Place of birth	Person County, North Carolina
Place of death	St. Souplet, France
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1917-1918
Rank	Private
Unit	K Company, 119th Infantry, 30th Division
Battles/wars	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.^[1] His grave can be found in plaot D-20-2.^[1]

1 Honors
2 Medal of Honor citation
3 See also
4 Notes
5 References

[edit] Honors

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

[edit] 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.^[2]