2LT Henry Rysdyk Blackham

2LT Henry Rysdyk Blackham was assigned to A Company 116th Infantry.  Born 15 Dec 1891 in Jersey City, New Jersey he was one of 3 sons of David and Clara A (DeWolfe) Blackham.  His father's parents were Irish.  In 1900 his father was a clerk for the telephone company and by 1910 was a stenographer for a lumber company (name unknown).  It doesn't appear that either of his brothers served in the military.  2LT Blackham was killed in action 11 Oct 1918 near Brabant, France.  For his actions that date he was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Second Lieutenant (Infantry) Henry Rysdyk Blackham, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 116th Infantry Regiment, 29th Division, A.E.F., near Brabant, France, 11 October 1918. Although severely wounded by machine-gun fire, Lieutenant Blackham refused to go to the rear and continued to lead his company until he was killed.
General Orders: War Department, General Orders No. 20 (1919)