Boncrosby Hugo Blakeney

Retired Sergeant Major Boncrosby "Bob" Blakeney was called home to be with the Lord, on September 16, 2019 at the age of 81. He was preceded by his father, Samuel H. Blakeney, mother Inary Blakeney and daughter Yolanda Blakeney Avery.  The union with Barbara Ann Burnette blessed them with four children, Yolanda, Kevin (Cindy) Stephen and Tina Blakeney Danzy (Cyrus) and grandchildren Cedrick, Charles, Tynia,Chanel, Christian, Brianna, Aaliyah, and Ethan.  Four great grandchildren Isabella, Tristian, Jurnee, and Marianna.  He will be missed by his nieces Laura Carroll, Brenda, Ivory, and nephew Rusty;  extended family Carrie Johnson, John Burnette, and Robert Burnette, and a host of nieces and nephews.

Boncrosby entered into this world on Thursday, February 3,1938 in Washington D.C. He attended Armstrong Tech High School in Washington D.C. and later at George Washington Carver Regional High School in Culpepper, VA.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army, got married and started a family; thus beginning his 30 years of exemplary military service. His military career started with basic training at Fort Jackson, SC and Advance Infantry and Jump School at Fort Campbell, KY with the 187th RCT and later with the 101st Abn Div. After two years with 101st Abn Div he was assigned to the 504th Abn Battle Group in Mainz, Germany. Upon completing his assignment with the 504th Abn Battle Group he volunteered for Special Forces training at Fort Bragg, NC.

Bob completed three tours in the Republic of Vietnam with the 5th Special Forces Group. On his second tour, he worked under the direction of a CIA agent with a Cambodian tribe conducting provincial, reconnaissance and intelligence gathering in Cambodia against the Viet Cong.

Sometime later he completed a tour of duty in the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division South Korea. After completing that tour, he was selected to attend the Sergeant Major Academy in Class 13. After graduation he was promoted to Sergeant Major and assigned to the 7th Special Forces Group. After two years as a B team Sergeant Major, he was pulled to the 7th Group Headquarters as the Operations Sergeant Major. After serving in this capacity for two years he was assigned to SOCOM as the G3 Operations Sergeant Major.

In 1985, after giving 30 years of service to this country he retired as Sgt. Major. Upon his retirement, he entered into Fayetteville Technical Community College where he recieved an Associate degree in Business Administration. Prior to completing school., he was sought out to teach the Disciplines of Intelligence at the Operations & Intelligence School at the Special Warfare Center (SWC). Soon after he was assigned to the 1st Bn SWC he was pulled to the Doctrine and Operational Development (DOTD) in the Training Development Division as the Deputy to the Chief of the Division. He maintained this position until he retired after 16 years as a government civilian employee.

His military awards and decoration include the Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, Army Commendation Medal, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, and other various service awards that include the Master Parachutist and Vietnamese Parachutist Wings.

Bob was a member of Bethel AME Zion Church for many years, where he worked on the Steward Board and was a member of the Male Chorus. On the Steward Board, he was responsible for the accountability and disbursement of church funds. He served in this capacity with great devotion.

Bob had a deep passion for golfing in which he made many friends from. He also was an avid Washington Redskins fan and he enjoyed watching the games with his family Kevin, Steve, Terry, Ty, and Myles. He loved spending time with his family on their yearly beach vacations and Sunday dinners. Bob was profound, disciplined, respected, admired, and most of all LOVED!