Pearl Harbor Day

The Texas Veterans Land Board (VLB) salutes all those who served in World War II, especially those who served during the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, 81 years ago today. The Japanese sneak attack killed 2,403 U.S. personnel and brought America into the war.

Not surprisingly, in the chaos of the attack and its aftermath, along with the fact that many sailors and soldiers were unrecognizable due to their manner of death, some of the dead were not identified. Until recently, at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, known as the Punchbowl, there were 46 plots with unidentified remains from the Japanese attack. Now there are 45.

In 2015, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) exhumed the remains from those plots and attempted to use forensic genealogy and dental analysis, along with Y Chromosome DNA analysis, to identify those who had been lost. One person was convincingly identified on July 29, 2019, but the public announcement was held until June 2022, after his family received a full briefing. This man was Navy Fireman 3rd Class Clarence A. Blaylock.

Blaylock was from Fort Worth and only 20 years old. He was serving on the USS Oklahoma, which sank in the attack that killed 428 other crewmen on board. No further details are available about his life on the Oklahoma or his death.

Less than one month before the 81st anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, F3C Blaylock was given his full military honors in a funeral at the Punchbowl. Family members were on hand on November 9, 2022 to participate in the ceremony and receive his flag.

The VLB salutes F3C Blaylock and his family, who gave a full measure of devotion to their country. We salute all our Veterans and Active Duty Military as well, who are prepared to do the same. To those who served in WWII, we truly believe you are the “Greatest Generation” and that you saved freedom. Thank you for your service.

The VLB is happy to provide any needed help for these American heroes. The mission for the VLB is “to ensure that we offer the very best package of Veterans benefits in the country and those of us who work for the VLB strive to meet those goals every day. For more than 70 years, we have had the honor to serve Veterans, Military Members and their families in Texas, and we look forward to keeping that promise in the years to come.” Call 1–800–252–8387, email VLBinfo@glo.texas.gov, or visit vlb.texas.gov to see the different benefits available.

If you are a Veteran, thank you for your service. Click Here to Sign Up to stay informed on your benefits with the Texas Veterans Land Board.