When George Wade Jr. Blackburn was born on February 26, 1917, in Harris, Texas, his father, George, was 47 and his mother, Lucy, was 22. He had four brothers and three sisters. He served in the U.S. Army during Normandy Invasion of World War II as a Private in C Company, 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. He entered the service in California. He died on August 28, 1972 and is now buried in Myrtle Hill Memorial Park, Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida, USA. He ended his military service as a Corporal.