ennis F. Blalock left school at University of Texas (Austin) following the Spring 1941 term and enlisted in the U.S. Army on July 9, 1941. He was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant and entered active duty on September 30, 1942. During World War II, Dennis served as a unit commander with the 36th Division 'T-Patchers' (infantry), where he saw extensive action in the European Theater and was wounded three times (Purple Heart with two Oak Leaf Clusters). He was awarded a Silver Star (GO 73 Headquarters 36th Division 45) for gallantry in action during the Rapido River conflict in January 1944, and a Bronze Star for heroic action during the routing of a Nazi garrison to liberate 800 Jewish prisoners from a subcamp of the Dachau concentration camp system near Haguenau, France, in March 1945. Dennis was awarded the European-African-Middle Eastern campaign medal with battle stars for Rome-Arno, Rhineland, Naples-Foggia, Central Europe, and Southern France, and a bronze arrowhead for Operation Dragoon. He was also awarded the American Defense Service Medal, World War II Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal, and Army of Occupation Medal. Dennis served as a Town Major in Occupied Germany following the war, and was finally discharged from active duty on March 31, 1946. He continued to serve his country in the U.S. Army Reserve, receiving the National Defense Service Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal before retiring as a colonel.