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Bleckley's Kansas National Guard unit was called up to join US troops in France during WWI.  Attached to a field artillery unit, it was Bleckley's dream to eventually become a pilot.  

Aviation was not even a decade old and was considered very dangerous during this time.  After completing flight training, Bleckley went on several missions as an observer with a pilot to find a US Army battalion that was pinned down by German forces.  Bleckley's bi-plan was witnessed by the lost battalion as it was peppered by German machine guns and eventually went down.  Both Bleckley and the pilot lost their lives and were later awarded the Medal of Honor.

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