Background
Robert"s father was originally from nearby Orange County, and was a Confederate Civil War veteran. His mother died when he was young.
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. He was born on October 4, 1895. He was assigned to Company K, 119th Infantry, 30th Division.
He was one of two soldiers from North Carolina to be awarded the Medal of Honor for service in the First World War.
He is buried in Somme American Cemetery and Memorial, Somme Picardie, France. His grave can be found in plot Doctorate, row 20, grave 2.
The family later donated the medal to what is now the North Carolina Museum of History.