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Casualty Info
Home Town Big Springs, TX
Last Address Big Springs, TX
Casualty Date Mar 06, 1967
Cause KIA-Died of Wounds
Reason Other Explosive Device
Location Hau Nghia (Vietnam)
Conflict Vietnam War
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
Wall/Plot Coordinates 16E 026/Section 12 Site 1354
Army Sgt. Walter R. Blalock, 20, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ulmont U. Blalock, 503 Donley, Big Spring, was graduated from the 8th Infantry Division Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) Academy at Baumholder, Germany, Oct 3. The sergeant entered the Army in 1961, completed basic training at Fort Hood, and arrived overseas on this tour of duty in May, 1963. He attended Big Springs High School.
Comments/Citation:
California Marriage Index, 1960-1985
Name: Walter R. Blaylock
Age: 22, Birth: abt 1944
Spouse Name: Cathryn A. Long
Spouse Age: 18, Birth: abt 1948
Date: 8 May 1966, Location: Santa Clara
Biography
Walter Rogers Blalock was born in Tucson, Arizona. He was the fourth of five children born to La Vern Rebecca Rogers and Ulmont U. Blalock. His oldest sister, Johnnie Sue was born August 23, 1938 in Uvalde, Texas; brother Monte was born June 1, 1940 in Rocksprings, Texas; sister Carolyn Rebecca was born January 23, 1942 in Rocksprings, Texas and his youngest sister, Rosalind Gayle was born July 14, 1945 in Del Rio, Texas. His father worked civil service and he worked mostly for the Army Air Corp and for the Air Force and the family moved with his duties.
The family had lived in Del Rio and Mr. Blalock worked at Laughlin Army Airfield until the base was closed in 1949. Mr. Blalock then returned to ranching in Barksdale, Texas. In 1950, the family moved to Uvalde and Mr. Blalock worked civil service in Hondo, Texas until 1952 when the family moved back to Del Rio and the Laughlin Air Force Base when it was reactivated during the Korean War. Walter attended Del Rio Schools up through Junior High School. According to his sister, Walter was raised primarily on a ranch at Barksdale, Texas. All the kids enjoyed fishing and climbing the hills (they thought they were mountains). She indicated they swam the creek and went fishing a lot. They rode horses and his sister indicated they could not have had a better childhood.
Mr. Blalock received a transfer to Edwards Air Force Base in California and Walter attended High School at Boron High School near Edwards AFB. It was here the Walter was to meet his future wife, Catherine Ann Long. Mr. Blalock then transferred to Webb Air Force Base in Big Spring, Texas and Walter attended Big Spring High School. According to his sister Sue, Walter dropped out of High School his senior year due to the divorce of their parents. He enlisted in the Army as a result in late 1962.
After his Basic Combat Training (BCT) and Advanced Individual Training (AIT), Walter spent three years in Germany and after re-enlisting, he returned to the states at Fort Ord, California in early 1966. He then married his High School sweetheart, Catherine Ann Long of Boron, California on May 8, 1966. He began his tour in Vietnam on December 27, 1966 the day before his 23rd birthday (28 Dec 1943).
He was assigned as a squad leader for A Troop, 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 25th Infantry Division. According to the Western Union Telegram, on the date of his death his unit was in a column driving down a thoroughfare when the Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) he was commanding struck a land mine, turned over and burned. He was taken to the 24th Evacuation Hospital where he expired from his wounds on the same day (6 Mar 1967).
Sgt Walter Rogers Blalock was buried with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. Mrs. Blalock, sister Rosalind and her husband, Johnnie Sue and her husband, as well as his wife, Catherine and her family were in attendance. In April, 1967, a memorial service was held at Edwards Air Force Base California where Walter's wife, Catherine, was presented a posthumous Bronze Star and Purple Heart and there was an additional parade and memorial service held at Fort Irwin, California.
So, Sgt Walter Rogers Blalock is survived by his wife, Catherine, his parents and brothers and sisters. His father took retirement due to glaucoma and passed away in 2004 and his buried in Barksdale, Texas. His mother is currently in a nursing home in Kerrville, Texas. His sister, Johnnie Sue Blalock Russell lives in Tucson, Arizona; his brother Monte lives in Utopia, Texas. His sister Carolyn Rebecca Blalock passed away April 6, 2003 in Kerrville, Texas and is buried in Barksdale, Texas. His younger sister, Rosalind Gayle Blalock Sullivan lives in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Walter Rogers Blalock was a wonderful human being, had a great sense of humor and a love of life. His family misses him very much.
