The Historical Society of Orange Park recently paid tribute to SP/4 Blackshear by placing his name on an engraved paver at the Veterans Memorial of Orange Park.
Jimmy Blackshear was born in Alachua County Hospital on September 7, 1948. He was raised at Kingsley Lake, Clay County, Florida.
Due to the proximity of Kingsley Lake to Bradford County, he attended school in Starke and was a 1966 graduate of Bradford High School. He participated in sports and was a member of the Bradford High Tornadoes State Championship football team. He was a member of St. Mark's Episcopal Church and attended St. Johns River Junior College in Palatka.
He entered the U.S. Army Feb. 2, 1967 and received his basic training at Ft. Benning, GA. He graduated as an honor student, second in his class from U.S. Army Paratrooper Training Brigade, Ft. Benning. SP/4 Blackshear left for Vietnam on Aug. 13, 1967 and received the Purple Heart for wounds received in action on October 9 of that year. He was killed in action in Kon Tum, Vietnam on March 17, 1968. He received the Silver Star for his actions on that fateful day and is interred at Kingsley Lake, where his family and many friends are nearby.
The Silver Star Medal is the third highest military decoration for valor that can be awarded to any person serving in any capacity with the United States Armed Forces. The medal is awarded for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States.
Jimmy's Silver Star Medal citation describes the action in which earned this honor and how he gave his life. You can read the citation at http://projects.militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=95053
Jimmy Blackshear, described above as experienced and a leader of men, was only 19 years old when he died. This Memorial Day, please pause and remember this young man
and the thousands of other men and women who sacrificed everything for their country.
As President Ronald Reagan once said, "Most of those who died in defense of our country were boys when they died, and they gave up two lives - the one they were living, and the one they would have lived. They gave up their chance to be husbands and fathers and grandfathers. They gave up everything for their country, for us.... All we can do is remember."
"Orange Park Historical Society - May 2013"
Jimmy Blackshear was born in Alachua County Hospital on September 7, 1948. He was raised at Kingsley Lake, Clay County, Florida.
Due to the proximity of Kingsley Lake to Bradford County, he attended school in Starke and was a 1966 graduate of Bradford High School. He participated in sports and was a member of the Bradford High Tornadoes State Championship football team. He was a member of St. Mark's Episcopal Church and attended St. Johns River Junior College in Palatka.
He entered the U.S. Army Feb. 2, 1967 and received his basic training at Ft. Benning, GA. He graduated as an honor student, second in his class from U.S. Army Paratrooper Training Brigade, Ft. Benning. SP/4 Blackshear left for Vietnam on Aug. 13, 1967 and received the Purple Heart for wounds received in action on October 9 of that year. He was killed in action in Kon Tum, Vietnam on March 17, 1968. He received the Silver Star for his actions on that fateful day and is interred at Kingsley Lake, where his family and many friends are nearby.
The Silver Star Medal is the third highest military decoration for valor that can be awarded to any person serving in any capacity with the United States Armed Forces. The medal is awarded for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States.
Jimmy's Silver Star Medal citation describes the action in which earned this honor and how he gave his life. You can read the citation at http://projects.militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=95053
Jimmy Blackshear, described above as experienced and a leader of men, was only 19 years old when he died. This Memorial Day, please pause and remember this young man
and the thousands of other men and women who sacrificed everything for their country.
As President Ronald Reagan once said, "Most of those who died in defense of our country were boys when they died, and they gave up two lives - the one they were living, and the one they would have lived. They gave up their chance to be husbands and fathers and grandfathers. They gave up everything for their country, for us.... All we can do is remember."
"Orange Park Historical Society - May 2013"
The Historical Society of Orange Park recently paid tribute to SP/4 Blackshear by placing his name on an engraved paver at the Veterans Memorial of Orange Park.
Jimmy Blackshear was born in Alachua County Hospital on September 7, 1948. He was raised at Kingsley Lake, Clay County, Florida.
Due to the proximity of Kingsley Lake to Bradford County, he attended school in Starke and was a 1966 graduate of Bradford High School. He participated in sports and was a member of the Bradford High Tornadoes State Championship football team. He was a member of St. Mark's Episcopal Church and attended St. Johns River Junior College in Palatka.
He entered the U.S. Army Feb. 2, 1967 and received his basic training at Ft. Benning, GA. He graduated as an honor student, second in his class from U.S. Army Paratrooper Training Brigade, Ft. Benning. SP/4 Blackshear left for Vietnam on Aug. 13, 1967 and received the Purple Heart for wounds received in action on October 9 of that year. He was killed in action in Kon Tum, Vietnam on March 17, 1968. He received the Silver Star for his actions on that fateful day and is interred at Kingsley Lake, where his family and many friends are nearby.
The Silver Star Medal is the third highest military decoration for valor that can be awarded to any person serving in any capacity with the United States Armed Forces. The medal is awarded for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States.
Jimmy's Silver Star Medal citation describes the action in which earned this honor and how he gave his life. You can read the citation at http://projects.militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=95053
Jimmy Blackshear, described above as experienced and a leader of men, was only 19 years old when he died. This Memorial Day, please pause and remember this young man
and the thousands of other men and women who sacrificed everything for their country.
As President Ronald Reagan once said, "Most of those who died in defense of our country were boys when they died, and they gave up two lives - the one they were living, and the one they would have lived. They gave up their chance to be husbands and fathers and grandfathers. They gave up everything for their country, for us.... All we can do is remember."
"Orange Park Historical Society - May 2013"
Jimmy Blackshear was born in Alachua County Hospital on September 7, 1948. He was raised at Kingsley Lake, Clay County, Florida.
Due to the proximity of Kingsley Lake to Bradford County, he attended school in Starke and was a 1966 graduate of Bradford High School. He participated in sports and was a member of the Bradford High Tornadoes State Championship football team. He was a member of St. Mark's Episcopal Church and attended St. Johns River Junior College in Palatka.
He entered the U.S. Army Feb. 2, 1967 and received his basic training at Ft. Benning, GA. He graduated as an honor student, second in his class from U.S. Army Paratrooper Training Brigade, Ft. Benning. SP/4 Blackshear left for Vietnam on Aug. 13, 1967 and received the Purple Heart for wounds received in action on October 9 of that year. He was killed in action in Kon Tum, Vietnam on March 17, 1968. He received the Silver Star for his actions on that fateful day and is interred at Kingsley Lake, where his family and many friends are nearby.
The Silver Star Medal is the third highest military decoration for valor that can be awarded to any person serving in any capacity with the United States Armed Forces. The medal is awarded for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States.
Jimmy's Silver Star Medal citation describes the action in which earned this honor and how he gave his life. You can read the citation at http://projects.militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=95053
Jimmy Blackshear, described above as experienced and a leader of men, was only 19 years old when he died. This Memorial Day, please pause and remember this young man
and the thousands of other men and women who sacrificed everything for their country.
As President Ronald Reagan once said, "Most of those who died in defense of our country were boys when they died, and they gave up two lives - the one they were living, and the one they would have lived. They gave up their chance to be husbands and fathers and grandfathers. They gave up everything for their country, for us.... All we can do is remember."
"Orange Park Historical Society - May 2013"
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