Staff Sergeant Edward W. Blair

The Tribune
Seymour, Indiana
Friday, June 1, 1945
Page 1

Infantryman Is Killed In Action On Luzon Island

Staff Sergeant Edward W. Blair, age twenty-seven, was killed in action on Luzon May 8, according to word received by his wife, Mrs. Juanita Blair, of Brownstown. Mrs. Blair also received a letter of confirmation from the War Department which said that a letter from the chaplain of S/Sgt. Blair's company was being sent to her.

S/Sgt. Blair, who was a member of his infantry division for ten years, joining a National Guard unit in Indianapolis at the age of seventeen, was born December 11, 1917, in Columbus, the son of Hade Blair and Mrs. Edna Gripstead, both of Columbus, who survive.

He attended the East Columbus grade school and Columbus High School and at the time of his induction, in January, 1942, was employed as a cab driver in Columbus. He was married April 15, 1939, in North Vernon, to Juanita Blevins, of Brownstown, who survives.

Overseas Two Years.

S/Sgt. Blair received training at Camp Shelby, Miss., Fort Benning, Ga., and Camp Carrabelle, Fla. and later went on maneuvers in Louisiana with the same company he had joined in 1931 in his national guard unit. He went overseas in December, 1943, and was sent to New Guinea, Hawaii, and other stations, participating in the drive that liberated Bataan.

Besides the widow and parents, hi is survived by one son, Jerry Gene, age four, and two sisters, Mrs Paul Perry and Mrs. June Lloyd, both of Columbus.