Blakely was an artilleryman, and was promoted to brigadier general on October 1, 1918, commanding an artillery brigade in France. After this, he was the commanding general of the brigade fire center.[2] Blakely graduated from the School of the Line at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in 1921. He then graduated from the General Staff School in 1922.[5]
From 1922 to 1925, he was executive officer for the Chief of Field Artillery in Washington.[2] He graduated from the United States Army War College in 1926.[5] During 1926 and 1927, Blakely studied at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. From 1934 to 1937, Blakely was assistant commandant of the Field Artillery School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. In 1938, after thirty-four years of service, Blakely retired due to disabilities.[2]
^ abOfficial Army and Air Force Register. Vol. II. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. January 1, 1948. p. 2084. Retrieved October 4, 2024.