War-time memories make book

Richard Blackburn always wanted to convert his World War II diaries, journals and other remembrances of combat into a single story for his family.

After a year’s work, the story is now available to not just his family, but everyone thanks to the efforts of two Libby men.

Jerry Berry, a veteran and military historian, and Blackburn’s son, Dave, were able to present Richard with the book that told his story on July 3, Richard’s 94th birthday.

“The Company of Heroes” tells Richard’s personal account of service during World War II.

Blackburn enlisted in the Army in 1942 and was assigned to the Army Air Corps after his Basic Training. After serving as a company clerk for almost a year, then-Sgt. Blackburn requested a transfer to the infantry to attend Officer Candidate School. He was commissioned a second lieutenant after graduation from OCS at Fort Benning, Ga.

On his 23rd birthday, July 3, 1944, Blackburn sailed from Boston Harbor, destined for Normandy, France, as an infantry replacement officer.  

“I was reluctant at first and did not feel as confident with my abilities to address the WWII Era,” Berry said about when he was first approached about working on the book. “As a Vietnam veteran, my expertise is within the realm of the Vietnam War era, and I have written extensively about my own war experience, as well as the Vietnam War, in general. All considered, I knew that it would take the experience of a fellow veteran to add credence to this true-life, historical nonfictional accounting of wartime experience.”