Obituary of Roger D. Blankenship

Roger Darrell Blankenship - age 67 of Lafayette, TN passed away Thursday, January 5, 2012 at Westmoreland Care and Rehab. Funeral services for Roger Darrell Blankenship were conducted Monday at 3 p.m. from the Chapel of the Alexander Funeral Home with Brother Marty Meador officiating. Interment followed in the Macon County Memorial Gardens. Roger was born on October 24, 1944 in Macon County, Tennessee on his grandfather's farm to the late Herman and Leona Driver Blankenship. Besides his parents; a brother, James Blankenship also preceded him in death. He never married and enjoyed hunting and fishing. Roger was drafted into the United States Army on August 28, 1967, which he served a two year tour of duty in the Vietnam War. Specialist 4th class, Roger D. Blankenship was stationed in the Republic of Vietnam where he was assigned the duties of a heavy vehicle truck driver. Assigned to Tan Son Nhut Air Base, his duties involved hauling supplies, ammunition, and high explosives under intense combat conditions. His routes usually ran from Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Vietnam to Saigon City, Vietnam and then returning back to Tan Son. It was very common for Specialist Blankenship to experience attacks of enemy ground fire from both North Vietnamese Regulars and Viet Cong Gorilla infantry troops. The dedication and job knowledge possessed by Specialist 4th Class Blankenship and other heavy vehicle truck drivers, American and UN troops were assured regular delivery of crucial war materials. Roger received the following decorations; Vietnamese Service Medal with 2 bronze stars, Vietnamese Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Army Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Expert Medal for the M-14, and Sharpshooter Medal for the M-16. Roger received an honorable discharge from the US Army Reserve on August 1, 1973. After the service, he worked a short time for TVA and then returned to work on the family farm until retiring. Roger will be greatly missed by his friends and family. He is survived by; Friends, Robert Storm, Marty Meador, Calvin Law, and Charles Hauri all of Lafayette, TN, and a host of friends. Alexander Funeral Home, Directors, in charge of arrangements. (615)666-2189 or www.alexanderfh.com