George C. Blake

George C. Blake was awarded the Silver Star Medal in 1945 for his courageous actions against enemy forces on December 9, 1944 in France. The Silver Star Medal citation states "George C. Blake...Private First Class, Infantry, Company "D", 761st Tank Battalion, for gallantry in action against the enemy on 9 December 1944, in the vicinity of Norville Les Vic, France. Private First Class Blake, seeing many of his comrades wounded by artillery and small arms fire, dismounted from his 1/4 ton truck, and under intense artillery and mortar fire, carried the wounded to his truck and evacuated them to a medical aid station. Private First Class Blake returned and remained in the field during the night to administer first aid and evacuate the wounded. Private First Class Blake's courageous action and devotion to duty exemplifies the highest tradition of the Armed Forces. Entered military service from Worthington, Ohio."

The 761st Tank Battalion was the first African American tank unit of the United States Army. It was not until the Carter Administration that a Presidential Unit Citation was issued for the 761st Tank Battalion for extraordinary heroism.

This photograph of George Blake was taken at the age of eighteen, when he was a Private First Class at Fort Knox, Kentucky before going to Camp Hood (now Fort Hood), Texas. He entered the service in 1943.

Web site cited: http://www.761st.com