Pvt. Robert Blackwell of Hurdle Mills Dies Oct. 11, 1918, Awarded Medal of Honor in 1919

Robert L. Blackwell, Private, Co. K, 119^th Infantry, 30^th Division, U.S. Army, near St. Souplet, France, on Oct. 11, 1918. 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, knowing the extreme danger connected with it. In attempting to get through the heavy shell and machine gun fire, this gallant soldier was killed. He entered service at Hurdle Mills, N.C. He was presented the Medal of Honor posthumously in 1919.