Descendants: Who’s Who, Part 45 (part 1)

Introduction: In this article, Melissa Davenport Berry continues her series on Mayflower descendants, with a special tribute to fallen heroes to commemorate Memorial Day. Melissa is a genealogist who has a website, americana-archives.com, and a Facebook group, New England Family Genealogy and History.

Today I continue my series on “Mayflower Descendants: Who’s Who,” with a special tribute to fallen heroes to commemorate Memorial Day.

Here is a photo of the New Plimmoth Gard, a group of historical reenactors portraying the militia of Plymouth Colony, 1621-1646. Their aim is to promote knowledge and understanding of early colonial society and the importance of military preparedness.

Photos: the New Plimmoth Gard, Plymouth Colony militia reenactors. Credit: New Plimmoth Gard.
Photos: the New Plimmoth Gard, Plymouth Colony militia reenactors. Credit: New Plimmoth Gard.

The subject for today’s story is 1st Lt. Walter Alvin Blair (1922-1943), United States Army Air Force, 351st Bomber Group, Heavy, 511th Bomber Squadron, a direct descendant of Mayflower passenger Richard Warren. Walter gave his life fighting for his country.

Photo: Lt. Walter Alvin Blair as a cadet. Credit: Brisbane Library History Collection.
Photo: Lt. Walter Alvin Blair as a cadet. Credit: Brisbane Library History Collection.

Lt. Blair was born in Brisbane, California, the only son born to Linwood Dorr and Vera (Lunerom) Blair, and left no issue – but there are many cousins who share his lineage.

Lineage:

  • Richard Warren and Elizabeth Walker
  • Ann/Anna Warren and Thomas Little
  • Hannah Little and Stephen Tilden
  • Joseph Tilden and Joanna Bowles
  • Jonathan Tilden and Mary Ruck
  • Joanna Tilden and Jothan Moulton
  • Abigail Ruck Moulton and Samuel Main/Mains
  • Wealthy Moody Main and Levi Crocker
  • Levi Robertson Crocker and Mary W. Trufant
  • Mariam Trufant Crocker and Daniel H. Wakefield
  • Harriet A. Wakefield and Alvin C. Blair
  • Linwood Dorr Blair and Vera A. Lunerom
  • Walter Alvin Blair

Linwood Dorr Blair (1893-1956), aka “Sarge,” was also a military man. He served in Co. M, 27th U. S. Infantry, nicknamed the “Wolfhounds.” He is in uniform in the photo below with his wife Vera (Lunerom) Blair (1901-1970), taken in Manila, Philippine Islands, in 1920.

Photo: Sgt. Linwood Dorr Blair and Vera (Lunerom) Blair, identified as Cap and Mom Blair. Credit: Brisbane Library History Collection.
Photo: Sgt. Linwood Dorr Blair and Vera (Lunerom) Blair, identified as Cap and Mom Blair. Credit: Brisbane Library History Collection.

The “Sarge” created a training program known as “Blair’s Rangers” to honor the memory of his son and to prepare young girls and boys in the way of serving in the United States military. Many benefited from this training during the Korean and Vietnam wars.

Two scrapbooks of “Blair’s Rangers” are housed at the Brisbane Library, and many of the photos from this collection tell a story of true patriotism and how the Blair family transformed their grief into service to their country.

From an early age, Lt. Walter Alvin Blair was a model patriot and soldier-in-waiting. In the photos below, he is seen: (left) saluting on his 5th birthday sporting military gear; in the middle photo taken in 1932, age 10, Blair was a Ranger skilled in the art of warfare; the photo on the right was taken in 1940 at age 18 after enlisting in the Air Force.

Photos: Walter Alvin Blair. Credit: Brisbane Library History Collection.
Photos: Walter Alvin Blair. Credit: Brisbane Library History Collection.

Lt. Blair was on the crew of the B-17G #42-5807 “Rikki Tikki Tavi” AKA “Minor Ball” during a mission to Frankfurt, Germany, on 4 October 1943.

Their target was an aviation factory. On the return trip back to base, they were attacked by enemy fighters and hit. They crashed near Ellewoutsdijk in Holland with no survivors, and only two bodies of the crew ever recovered. For all the casualties that day see: HonorStates.org

Here is a newspaper clip announcing Lt. Blair’s death.

An article about Walter Blair, San Francisco Chronicle newspaper 30 October 1943
San Francisco Chronicle (San Francisco, California), 30 October 1943, page 14

In late January 1944 Lt. Blair was awarded the Air Medal and two Oak Leaf Clusters for destruction of an enemy plane over Europe and for 10 combat missions.

An article about Walter Blair, San Francisco Chronicle newspaper 31 January 1944
San Francisco Chronicle (San Francisco, California), 31 January 1944, page 2

His father “Sarge” Blair received these medals in his place during a ceremony on 30 January 1944.

Photo: Linwood “Sarge” Blair receives his son’s Air Medal at Hamilton Field, California, on 30 January 1944. Credit: Brisbane Library History Collection.
Photo: Linwood “Sarge” Blair receives his son’s Air Medal at Hamilton Field, California, on 30 January 1944. Credit: Brisbane Library History Collection.

Lt. Blair was one of Brisbane’s first heroes of WWII at the age of 20, and his bravery and courage are remembered every Memorial Day.

“Sarge” and his wife Vera set up a memorial outside their home for their son and other fallen soldiers, which was also the main headquarters for his rangers.

Photo: Memorial Day at the Blair home, 1950. Credit: Brisbane Library History Collection.
Photo: Memorial Day at the Blair home, 1950. Credit: Brisbane Library History Collection.

In this next photo, “Sarge,” Vera, and his rangers are shown at the installation of the Walter A. Blair V.F.W. Post 9769 on 3 April 1946.

Photo: Walter A. Blair V.F.W. Post 9769, 3 April 1946. Credit: Brisbane Library History Collection.
Photo: Walter A. Blair V.F.W. Post 9769, 3 April 1946. Credit: Brisbane Library History Collection.

According to “Memory of Sarge’s Rangers Still Lingers in Brisbane,” by Lola Garcia, when Linwood Blair organized “Blair’s Rangers” (composed of boys and girls ranging from age 9 thru 17), “Sarge” asked for only one requirement: that each starting ranger could lug a nine-pound rifle and a full field equipment bag.

One special part of the unit that worked right alongside “Sarge” was PFC “Tike,” a Springer Spaniel, who refused to surrender his position in the lead. He can be seen in the photos below with the rangers.

Photos: field training and drills of “Blair’s Rangers.” Credit: Brisbane Library History Collection.
Photos: field training and drills of “Blair’s Rangers.” Credit: Brisbane Library History Collection.

Blair assembled his rangers twice a month to do a two-mile trek along the Bayside Highway to a grove of Eucalyptus trees while singing, “Sound Off (The Duckworth Chant).”

Below is a page from the scrapbook of “Blair’s Rangers” showing rangers who completed “Sarge’s” program and went on to enlist in the military. I ask readers to share any additional information.

This page includes: Robert Herbert Tann (1931-2001), son of Herbert Wellington and Margaret Elizabeth (Gibson) Tann, served in the U. S. Marines in both the Korean and Vietnam wars and was awarded the Purple Heart; Bill Hatch, gunner, U. S. Air Force; Captain Banner/Bonner, awarded a Purple Heart and Bronze Star, Korean and Vietnam wars; Sgt. D. Walton, Korean Vet; Sgt. E. Maxwell, Korean War; ? Brown, U. S. Navy, Korean War; 1st Sgt. Anthony D. Souza, U. S. Marines; Sgt. John Sweet, Korean War; and Anthony D. Souza in uniform.

Photos: “Blair’s Rangers” scrapbook #1. Credit: Brisbane Library History Collection.
Photos: “Blair’s Rangers” scrapbook #1. Credit: Brisbane Library History Collection.

The “Blair’s Rangers” program taught many young people about service principles, along with their duties and responsibilities. Numerous testimonials highlight the significant influence this guidance had on their lives – and in many cases spared them from death.

To be continued…

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Note on the header image: “Mayflower in Plymouth Harbor,” by William Halsall, 1882. Credit: Wikimedia Commons.

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