T/5 Earl William Blickhahn was born on August 9, 1919, in Chicago, Illinois, to Henry P. Blickhahn and Marie C. Seidelmann-Blickhahn. He had six sisters and three brothers and was known as Steve to his family. His mother died on February 25, 1925, and his father married Marie Rose. From his father’s second marriage, he became the half-brother of two other brothers. The family resided at 201 South 21st Avenue, Maywood, Illinois. He graduated from the Irving School, in Maywood, and went to Proviso Township High School from which he graduated in 1938. After high school, he worked at the Robert Duncan Service Station. Earl married Harriet Lisiak and the couple resided at 8604 South Manistee Avenue in Chicago.
On October 16, 1940, he registered with Selective Service when the draft act became law and named his uncle, Frank Blickhahn as his contact person. Being that he was married, he did not get inducted into the Army until April 1, 1943, and he received the serial number 36, 014, 961. It is not known where he did his basic training. What is known is that he received specialized training in the Corps of Engineers. Because of this training, his rank became Technician Fifth Grade or Tec 5 or T/5. A Tec 5 was called corporal but had no training the commanding of troops. At Fort Benning, Georgia, he joined the 101st Airborne Division and was assigned to Company B, 326th Airborne Engineers.
In September 1943, the 101st left the United States for England. The unit was stationed at Basildon Park near Reading, Berkshire. The night of June 5, 1944, the 101st parachuted into occupied France as part of the D-Day Invasion. During the operation, Earl was wounded and evacuated to a hospital in England. Military records show that T/5 Earl W. Blackhahn died from his wounds on June 11, 1944, and was buried in Brookwood American Military Cemetery on June 16, 1944, in Plot P, Row 4, Grave 7. It is not known when his wife received the telegram informing her of Earl’s death, but a Memorial Service was held at St. Simeon’s Catholic Church in Bellwood, Illinois, on July 24, 1944.
In a letter dated February 10, 1947, his wife received a photo of the cemetery where Earl was buried. She also was told that he would be buried in the cemetery until his remains were either returned to the United States or buried in a permanent American Military Cemetery overseas. In another letter, dated May 15, 1947, she was sent her options for Earl’s final burial. She was asked to fill-out and return an enclosed form indicating where she wanted him buried. She did not respond to the letter so another letter, dated August 20, 1947, was sent stating that unless she responded the military was required to bury him in an American Military Cemetery Overseas. The form was finally returned to the Office of the Quartermaster General on May 7, 198. On the form, his wife indicated she had remarried and that his father was his next of kin. His father had signed the form indicating he wanted Earl buried in an American Military Cemetery.
Military records show that on May 27, 1948, Tec 5 Earl W. Blackhahn was buried, with full military honors, in Plot F, Row 6, Grave 95, at the United States Military Cemetery, Cambridge, England. His father was sent this letter.
T/5 Earl W. Blackhahn, ASN 36 014 961
Plot F, Row 6, Grave 95
Mr. Henry O. Blackhahn Headstone: Cross
201 South 21st Street Cambridge (England) U. S. Military Cemetery
Maywood, Illionis
Dear Mr. Blackhahn:
This is to inform you that the remains of your beloved ones have been permanently interred, as the recorded above, side by side with comrades who also gave their lives for their country. Customary military funeral services were conducted over the grave at the time of burial.
After the Department of the Army has completed all final interments, the cemetery will be transferred, as authorized by the Congress, to the care and supervision of the American Battle Monuments Commission. The commission will have the responsibility for permanent construction and beautification of the cemetery, including erection of the permanent headstone. The headstone will be inscribe with the name exactly recorded above, the rank or rating where appropriate, organization, State, and date of death. Any inquiries relative to the type of headstone or the spelling of the name to be inscribed thereon, should be addressed to the American Battle Monuments Commission, the central address of which is 1712 “G” Street, N. W. Washington 25, D. C. Your letter should include the full name, rank, serial number, grave location, and name of the cemetery.
While interment and beautification activities are in progress, the cemetery will not be open to visitors. You may be rest assured that this final interment was conducted with fitting dignity and solemnity and that the grave-site will be care-fully and conscientiously maintained in perpetuity by the United States Government.
Sincerely yours,
(signed)
W. FELDMAN
Major General
The Quartermaster General
