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Contact Info
Home Town Charlotte
Last Address Toulon, France
Date of Passing Apr 12, 1984
Location of Interment Woodlawn Memorial Gardens - Norfolk, Virginia
Wall/Plot Coordinates Avenue of Flags
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
Lt Blackiston was a Navy SEAL, Class 040. He was killed during a training jump. The cause of death was drowning. His chute deployed, but he got tangled in the strings when he landed in the water because he was unconscious.
Lt Blackiston was awarded 4 Bronze Star Medals (With Combat V) in Vietnam 1968-1971
Contributor: Dan Arnes (47630541) •
Slator Blackiston was born on January 25, 1946, in Charlotte, North Carolina. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on February 1, 1967, and completed basic training at NTC Great Lakes, Illinois, in April 1967. Petty Officer Blackiston next completed Quartermaster school before attending Underwater Demolition Team Replacement training with Class 040 (East Coast) at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek Virginia, where he graduated in August 1967. He served with UDT-21 at NAB Little Creek from August 1967 to April 1968, followed by service with SEAL Team TWO at Little Creek from April 1968 until being appointed a Warrant Officer in the U.S. Navy on June 4, 1975. After completing his bachelor's degree at Virginia Wesleyan College, Blackiston was commissioned an Ensign in the U.S. Navy in June 1976. He later served with Naval Special Warfare Group TWO at NAB Little Creek before going to France as an Exchange Officer with the French Navy in Toulon, France, in August 1982. LT BLackiston was killed in a parachute training accident in San Rafael, France, on April 12, 1984.
His Letter of Commendation from Vice Admiral Robert E. Adamson, Commander Naval Surface Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, reads:
For outstanding performance of his duties while serving as Petty Officer in Charge of 3rd Platoon, Submersible Operations Department of SEAL Team TWO. Petty Officer Blackiston consistently performed his duties in an exemplary and highly professional manner. Displaying exceptional leadership, skill and resourcefulness, he molded his unit into a cohesive, responsive and highly professional team. Through his most effective ability as an instructor, and his intrinsic ability to share knowledge on a multi-lingual basis, Petty Officer Blackiston was instrumental in training units of the Greek Hellenic Raiding Force, Columbian Navy and Peruvian Navy in all phases of diving tactics. Notwithstanding the demands of his myriad duties, Petty Officer Blackiston vigorously pursued higher education through off-duty study for an Associate Degree. Being an involved citizen, he provided active leadership in various civic activities. His constant good judgement, zealous devotion to duty and personal investment in his unit earned him wide respect and marked him a unanimous choice to represent the Naval Surface Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet as candidate for "Sailor of the Year'. Petty Officer Blackiston's outstanding performance and loyal devotion to duty reflected great credit upon himself and the Naval Surface Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet.
Other Comments:
His Letter of Commendation from Vice Admiral Robert E. Adamson, Commander Naval Surface Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, reads:
For outstanding performance of his duties while serving as Petty Officer in Charge of 3rd Platoon, Submersible Operations Department of SEAL Team TWO. Petty Officer Blackiston consistently performed his duties in an exemplary and highly professional manner. Displaying exceptional leadership, skill and resourcefulness, he molded his unit into a cohesive, responsive and highly professional team. Through his most effective ability as an instructor, and his intrinsic ability to share knowledge on a multi-lingual basis, Petty Officer Blackiston was instrumental in training units of the Greek Hellenic Raiding Force, Columbian Navy and Peruvian Navy in all phases of diving tactics. Notwithstanding the demands of his myriad duties, Petty Officer Blackiston vigorously pursued higher education through off-duty study for an Associate Degree. Being an involved citizen, he provided active leadership in various civic activities. His constant good judgement, zealous devotion to duty and personal investment in his unit earned him wide respect and marked him a unanimous choice to represent the Naval Surface Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet as candidate for "Sailor of the Year'. Petty Officer Blackiston's outstanding performance and loyal devotion to duty reflected great credit upon himself and the Naval Surface Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet.
Vietnam War/Counteroffensive Phase III Campaign (67-68)
From Month/Year
June / 1967
To Month/Year
January / 1968
Description This Campaign period was from 1 June 1967 to 29 January 1968. By mid-1967, the Navy's Military Sea Transportation Service operated a fleet of 527 reactivated World War II Reserve Fleet ships and chartered vessels under U.S. and foreign registry. Throughout this period, MSTS shipping carried over 40,000 U.S. and allied combat and support troops to South Vietnam. The allied requirements for transportation were passed from MSTS representatives in the ports of Danang, Chu Lai, Qui Nhon, Nha Trang, Cam Ranh, Vung Tau, Phan Rang, and Vung Ro through the MSTS office in Saigon to the MSTS Far East, headquartered in Yokohama, Japan, and finally to Commander MSTS in the United States. Many types of vessels sailed in the MSTS fleet, including converted escort carriers Core, Card, Point Cruz (T-AKV 19), and Kula Gulf (T-AKV 8), which served as aircraft ferries. Corpus Christi Bay (T-ARVH 1), formerly seaplane tender Albermarle (AV 5), operated as a helicopter repair ship for the Army. In addition to the great number of standard cargo hulls, the service operated ships that carried cargo stowed in easily handled containers and new roll-on/roll-off ships that could quickly load and unload vehicles through rear or side ports. Arriving at Danang on 1 August 1967, Bienville was the first such container vessel to reach South Vietnam. Fuel tankers included the 190,000-barrel capacity Maumee (T-AO 149), the 140,000-barrel Cache (T-AO 67), and the 30,000-barrel Chattahoochee (T-AOG 82), the latter of which was used for storage and shuttle services in-country.
MSTS also controlled as many as 16 troop transports in the Pacific during the buildup of forces in South Vietnam. A fleet of LSTs, the number of which increased from 17 to 42 by mid-1968, handled cargo shuttling along the coast. In-port lighterage and terminal duties were accomplished by the MSTS-contracted Alaska Barge and Transport Company, which operated 19 tugs and 33 barges. The total MSTS effort ensured that the 550,000-man U.S. contingent in South Vietnam was well supplied, armed, and prepared to stay in the battle against the determined enemy.
Naval Support Activity, Saigon, which the Navy activated on 17 May 1966, two days after HSAS ceased operations, was charged with providing logistic support to naval units in the II, III, and IV Corps Tactical Zones. The newly created NAVFORV directed the operations of NSA Saigon. The support activity supplied the Navy's Coastal Surveillance Force, River Patrol Force, Riverine Assault Force, and the various specialized headquarters, offices, and detachments operating in the three southern corps areas. NSA Saigon provided the commands with ammunition, weapons, and communications equipment; transported cargo and personnel; repaired and maintained ships and craft; stocked spare parts; and built bases and facilities. Finally, NSA saw to the quartering, messing, payroll, and recreational needs of the naval officers and enlisted personnel in Vietnam.
The Saigon activity developed subordinate support bases for the combat forces similar to those of NSA Danang's. NSA Saigon detachments at Qui Nhon, Nha Trang, Cam Ranh Bay, An Thoi, Cat Lo, and Vung Tau primarily served the Market Time operation, although the last two bases were home to other naval combat units as well. The concentration of the Task Force 115 headquarters, naval air units, and other large contingents at Cam Ranh Bay required greater command authority and logistic resources. As a result, in September 1967, NSA Saigon upgraded the detachment to the Naval Support Facility, Cam Ranh Bay. Detachments were also established at Can Tho (and later moved to nearby Binh Thuy), Nha Be, Vinh Long, Sa Dec, My Tho, Tan Chau, and Long Xuyen. These units saw to the special needs of the Task Force 116 PBR commands. The Naval Support Activity, Saigon, Detachment Dong Tam, supplied only the Mobile Riverine Force naval units.
