Frater John Thomas “Jack” Blackburn (Omicron- The Ohio State University) was the first member of TKE to die in World War II. He was killed during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941 while serving aboard the USS Utah.
Blackburn was an initiate of Omicron chapter at Ohio State where he was enrolled for a year before joining the Navy in October 1939. Blackburn had the rank of Enlisted and served as a Fireman First Class attached to the USS Utah.
Shortly after 8 am on December 7, a torpedo struck the port side of the Utah, a former battleship turned target ship (AG-16) moored at Berth FOX-11 in Pearl Harbor. The torpedo caused serious flooding and the ship listed to port. A second torpedo hit in the same area as the first, which made the list worse. All personnel were ordered to the starboard side, awaiting imminent capsize.
Blackburn stayed at his post working below decks to put out the boilers and avoid an explosion as the ship flooded with sea water.
At 8:12 am, the USS Utah fully capsized and personnel swam to Ford Island nearby. Blackburn was one of 58 men from the USS Utah’s crew who lost their lives. 461 survived. His commanding officer wrote, “John died a hero. He stayed at his post until it was too late to save himself.”
Blackburn’s remains were never recovered. He was listed as Missing as Action and is memorialized at the USS Utah and Honolulu Memorial in Pearl Harbor. Blackburn Hall, on the Ohio State campus, is named in his honor.
Frater Blackburn received a Purple Heart, WW II Victory, American Campaign, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign, Navy Expeditionary and Good Conduct medals as well as a Combat Action ribbon and Navy Presidential Unit Citation for his service.
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