A 1999 Flintridge Preparatory School graduate and graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. Second Lt. James P. Blecksmith, or JP to everyone who knew him. Blecksmith had soldiering in his blood. His father, longtime San Marino resident Ed Blecksmith, was in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. As a boy, Blecksmith would dig out his father's old jungle utilities, dress himself for battle and dig a hole in a vacant lot next door to the home they lived in in Seattle for about five years.
JP Blecksmith was the youngest of three children. He played football at Flintridge Prep - quarterback - and ran track, making it to the CIF finals in about 10 events during high school, his father said.
Blecksmith was athletic and intelligent, with good SAT scores, and he was recruited by the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., his father said. There, he continued his football career, playing wide receiver for the Navy Midshipmen.
"He did everything that a father could ever want or ask of a son,' Ed Blecksmith said.
After four more months of training, he was deployed to Iraq on Sept. 10. His family was notified Thursday night - Veterans Day - that he had been killed. "It was devastating,' Blecksmith said. "I can't describe the emptiness I feel, the hurt I feel, the pain I feel, as does my wife.'
2LT James Patrick Blecksmith was awarded the Purple Heart (PH) as a military member of the United States Army during Iraq War. The PH is awarded to servicemembers who were wounded or killed while serving in the United States armed forces. 2LT Blecksmith also received the Bronze Star Medal (BSM) that is awarded to members of the United States armed forces for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service in a combat zone.
JP Blecksmith was the youngest of three children. He played football at Flintridge Prep - quarterback - and ran track, making it to the CIF finals in about 10 events during high school, his father said.
Blecksmith was athletic and intelligent, with good SAT scores, and he was recruited by the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., his father said. There, he continued his football career, playing wide receiver for the Navy Midshipmen.
"He did everything that a father could ever want or ask of a son,' Ed Blecksmith said.
After four more months of training, he was deployed to Iraq on Sept. 10. His family was notified Thursday night - Veterans Day - that he had been killed. "It was devastating,' Blecksmith said. "I can't describe the emptiness I feel, the hurt I feel, the pain I feel, as does my wife.'
2LT James Patrick Blecksmith was awarded the Purple Heart (PH) as a military member of the United States Army during Iraq War. The PH is awarded to servicemembers who were wounded or killed while serving in the United States armed forces. 2LT Blecksmith also received the Bronze Star Medal (BSM) that is awarded to members of the United States armed forces for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service in a combat zone.
A 1999 Flintridge Preparatory School graduate and graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. Second Lt. James P. Blecksmith, or JP to everyone who knew him. Blecksmith had soldiering in his blood. His father, longtime San Marino resident Ed Blecksmith, was in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. As a boy, Blecksmith would dig out his father's old jungle utilities, dress himself for battle and dig a hole in a vacant lot next door to the home they lived in in Seattle for about five years.
JP Blecksmith was the youngest of three children. He played football at Flintridge Prep - quarterback - and ran track, making it to the CIF finals in about 10 events during high school, his father said.
Blecksmith was athletic and intelligent, with good SAT scores, and he was recruited by the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., his father said. There, he continued his football career, playing wide receiver for the Navy Midshipmen.
"He did everything that a father could ever want or ask of a son,' Ed Blecksmith said.
After four more months of training, he was deployed to Iraq on Sept. 10. His family was notified Thursday night - Veterans Day - that he had been killed. "It was devastating,' Blecksmith said. "I can't describe the emptiness I feel, the hurt I feel, the pain I feel, as does my wife.'
2LT James Patrick Blecksmith was awarded the Purple Heart (PH) as a military member of the United States Army during Iraq War. The PH is awarded to servicemembers who were wounded or killed while serving in the United States armed forces. 2LT Blecksmith also received the Bronze Star Medal (BSM) that is awarded to members of the United States armed forces for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service in a combat zone.
JP Blecksmith was the youngest of three children. He played football at Flintridge Prep - quarterback - and ran track, making it to the CIF finals in about 10 events during high school, his father said.
Blecksmith was athletic and intelligent, with good SAT scores, and he was recruited by the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., his father said. There, he continued his football career, playing wide receiver for the Navy Midshipmen.
"He did everything that a father could ever want or ask of a son,' Ed Blecksmith said.
After four more months of training, he was deployed to Iraq on Sept. 10. His family was notified Thursday night - Veterans Day - that he had been killed. "It was devastating,' Blecksmith said. "I can't describe the emptiness I feel, the hurt I feel, the pain I feel, as does my wife.'
2LT James Patrick Blecksmith was awarded the Purple Heart (PH) as a military member of the United States Army during Iraq War. The PH is awarded to servicemembers who were wounded or killed while serving in the United States armed forces. 2LT Blecksmith also received the Bronze Star Medal (BSM) that is awarded to members of the United States armed forces for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service in a combat zone.
