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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private · U.S. Army

Robert Lester Blackwell

Private Robert Lester Blackwell, Army, received the Medal of Honor posthumously for actions on October 11, 1918 near St. Souplet, France during World War I.

World War I October 11, 1918Posthumous

Private Robert Lester Blackwell, a soldier in the U.S. Army, was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for gallantry on October 11, 1918 near St. Souplet, France during World War I. At the time he was serving with Company K, 119th Infantry, 30th Division. Blackwell was 23 years old.

Blackwell was killed in the action for which his medal was awarded. One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.

Blackwell was born on October 4, 1895 in Person County, North Carolina. His Medal of Honor is credited to Hurdle Mills, Person County, North Carolina. He is buried at Somme Cemetery in Bony Aisne, France. His medal is held by North Carolina Museum of History, Raleigh, NC.

Blackwell is one of 132 Medal of Honor recipients from World War I and one of 22 credited to North Carolina.

★ Gave Their Lives

Official Medal of Honor 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 machine-gun fire this gallant soldier was killed.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Wounds and death in action

  • Killed in action during the act for which the medal was awarded (October 11, 1918).
  • Age at death: 23
  • Resting place: Somme Cemetery

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: World War I.

Places

  • Born: Person County — map
  • Died: Saint-Souplet — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in North Carolina →

Timeline

  1. October 4, 1895
    Born in Person County, North Carolina
  2. October 11, 1918
    Act of valor — near St. Souplet, France
    Age 23. Company K, 119th Infantry, 30th Division Killed in action.
  3. Resting place
    Somme Cemetery
    Bony Aisne

Biography

Robert Lester Blackwell (October 4, 1895 – October 11, 1918) was an American soldier who posthumously received the Medal of Honor during World War I. He was born in the vicinity of Hurdle Mills, in Person County, North Carolina, to James B. and Eugenia Blackwell. Robert's father was originally from nearby Orange County, and was a Confederate Civil War veteran; his mother died when he was young. Blackwell was raised on his family's farm, and entered the Army from Hurdle Mills.

From the Wikipedia article “Robert L. Blackwell”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on October 11, 1918

RH Richmond Hobson Hilton Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918

More World War I recipients from North Carolina

Samuel Iredell Parker Second Lieutenant · Army World War I · 1918
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.