After ships anchored in Texas City exploded in 1947, injuring and burning some 3,000 persons, the Blockers published a survey of the casualties. For this and other research studies involving trauma and burns the Blockers received the Harvey Allen Award from the American Burn Association in 1971. See also Blocker, V. "The Texas City disaster; pattern of injury in 3,000 casualties," Tex Rep Biol Med. (1949) 7 (1) 22-32.