Private First Class George R. Blalack attached to the 168th Infantry, 34th Division, U.S. Army, was wounded while carrying supplies by mule train to the front line. Later dying of his injuries on Dec. 15, 1944, Blalack was buried in plot number 33, row 7, Florence American Cemetery and Memorial, Florence, Italy. He was award the Purple Heart 

Blalack was born in Brighton, Tenn., on May 18, 1925 to Lucian L. and Annie Evie Wallace Blalack. He attended Brighton Schools and entered Army service on July 24, 1943 at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, shipping overseas in March 1944. Private Blalack entered Italy with the Allied invasion forces at Anzio Beach. He was wounded in the Battle for Rome.