-40%
WW2 Named US Navy Good Conduct Medal to USS Atlanta, GuadalCanal Battle, CPO Vet
$ 44.88
- Description
- Size Guide
Description
This is a United States Navy Good Conduct medal. It has the original slot type brooch which has some light green patina soiling on the reverse, original ribbon drape which has some light fraying to the edges and some stain to the front and the original bottom ribbon holder. The planchet is in good condition with no edge knocks but there is some dark staining to the obverse at about the 2 O'clock position. The reverse is officially impressed "William/Price/Blackburn/1946".This specific medal was awarded and issued to Interior Communications Electrician Chief (ICC)
William Price Blackburn
. Mr. Blackburn was born in Georgia, on October 9, 1919. He first enlisted in the Navy on October 21, 1937, at Macon, Georgia. After boot camp he was assigned for sea duty on the USS Louisville, and then later transferred to the USS New Orleans. On Christmas Eve, 1941, he was assigned to a Receiving Ship in New York, for transfer to the USS Atlanta (CL-51). He served on the USS Atlanta and was aboard her, when she was heavily damaged in the naval battle of GuadaCanal. The USS Atlanta was struck and damaged by Japanese naval forces and friendly fire, and was eventually scuttled by her Captain on November 13, 1942. ICC Blackburn was one of the survivors and was taken off the USS Atlanta and transferred to the USS Betelgeuse, see
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Atlanta_(CL-51)
.
He went on to serve in the Navy until he was honorably discharged on December 31, 1954. He died on September 30, 1955, at the Oakland, CA Naval Hospital, and is buried at the Glen Haven Memorial Park and Mausoleum, in Winter Park, Florida.
I will include a copy of his FOIA record, a copy of two pages of Navy Muster files that show his transfer to and from the USS Atlanta, a copy of his obituary, a two page copy of his application for headstone and a copy of a picture of his headstone. I should note that Mr. Blackburn was also eligible for the WW2 Victory medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign medal, the American Defense Service medal, and some service medals for the Korean war, but if issued, the whereabouts are unknown.