|
Air National Guard Cites Beckleyan
WASHINGTON, JULY 30 UPI.- A West Virginian was honored
tonight for achieving one of his ambitions --- to be the best Air
National Guardsman in the United States,
MSgt Jasper F. Blackmon, of Beckley, was awarded a plaque as the
nation's "most outstanding airman of the Air National Guard." |
There was a
standing ovation as the plaque was presented at the awards dinner of the
annual meeting of the Air Force Assn.
The presentation was made by AFA president John P. Henebry of Chicago.
Blackmon is supervisor of the military air freight section of the 130th
Air Material Assembly Squadron West Virginia Air National Guard.
A native of Charlotte, N.C., Blackmon served with the
National Guard in Savannah, Ga. and in Baltimore before going to Beckley
about six years ago.
He was selected as "Airman of the Year" by the Air Division of the
National Guard here from candidates in 48 states, |
The AFA noted numerous activities by Blackmon
in achieving top honors. These included recruiting 30 young men to
join the Air National Guard within a 10-month period, and making
frequent 1340-mile round trips to attend unit training.
Blackmon, a salesman, served during World War Ii with 608th Parachute
Infantry Regiment in the European Theatre. He made 32 jumps, was
wounded twice, and was awarded the purple Heart with oak leaf clusters.
He is married and has three children: Ann Dorothy, 16; Donald
George, 15; and Edward Lester, 14.(Beckley Pot
Herald July 31, 1957) |
 Outstanding
Air National Guardsman --- MSgt Jasper F. Blackmon of Beckley, W.
Va. gets congratulations of Air Force Association President John P.
Henebry of Chicago after being awarded plaque as the nation's
"most outstanding airman of the Air National Guard" in Washington
Tuesday night.
His selection was made by the Air Division of the National Guard
Bureau. Ceremony was held at the awards dinner of the Air Force
association. Blackmon is supervisor of the military air freight
section of the 130th Air Material Assembly Squadron West Virginia Air
National Guard. (AP Wirephoto)
(The Morning Herald Hagerstown, MD July 31, 1957 and also appeared in The Lima [OH] News, August 1, 1957 |
