Joe M. Jackson
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Joe Madison Jackson | |
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Born | Newnan, Georgia, U.S. | March 14, 1923
Died | January 12, 2019 Orting, Washington, U.S. | (aged 95)
Place of burial | Arlington National Cemetery Section 34 |
Allegiance | United States of America |
Service/ | United States Air Force United States Army Air Corps |
Years of service | 1941–1973 |
Rank | Colonel |
Commands held | 311th Air Commando Squadron |
Battles/wars | World War II Korean War Vietnam War |
Awards | Medal of Honor Legion of Merit Distinguished Flying Cross Air Medal (4) |
Joe Madison Jackson (March 14, 1923 – January 12, 2019) served as a career officer in the
Military career
Jackson, born on March 14, 1923, in Newnan, Georgia, was an avid model aircraft enthusiast in his youth. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in March 1941,[1] a few days after his 18th birthday, in hopes of being an airplane mechanic.[2]
World War II
After the
Korean War and early Cold War
During the late 1940s, Jackson returned to flying fighter aircraft.
During the
His in-service accomplishments include:
- Discovering a formulaic method of navigating an aircraft back to base in poor weather
- Developing Standard Jet Penetration, a popular method of landing a jet aircraft with low ceilings and low visibility
- Developing mass transoceanic ferrying flights
- Creating a bomb-throwing method allowing nuclear weapons to be delivered by fighter aircraft
- Planning and directing aerial reconnaissance over Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962
- Becoming one of the first U-2 Dragonladyreconnaissance aircraft
Vietnam War
After completing a staff tour in Europe, Jackson volunteered to go to
On January 16, 1969, President Lyndon B. Johnson presented Jackson with the Medal of Honor at a White House ceremony. Also receiving the Medal of Honor that day was fellow Newnan native Stephen W. Pless, a Marine Corps aviator who, like Jackson, had earned the decoration for an airborne rescue operation. Legend states that, upon realizing that both Pless and Jackson were from the same small Georgia town, President Johnson quipped "there must be something in the water down in Newnan."
After Vietnam, Jackson served at
Military awards
Jackson's decorations and awards include:
USAF Command Pilot badge
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Medal of Honor | Legion of Merit | ||||||||||
Distinguished Flying Cross | Air Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters |
Air Force Commendation Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster | |||||||||
Air Force Presidential Unit Citation | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
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Army Good Conduct Medal
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American Defence Service Medal
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American Campaign Medal | World War II Victory Medal | |||||||||
Army of Occupation Medal | National Defense Service Medal with service star |
Korean Service Medal | |||||||||
campaign star
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Air Force Longevity Service Award with one silver and two bronze oak leaf clusters |
Armed Forces Reserve Medal | |||||||||
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
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Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
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Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
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United Nations Korea Medal
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Vietnam Campaign Medal | Korean War Service Medal |
Medal of Honor citation
Jackson's official Medal of Honor citation for his actions at the Battle of Kham Duc reads:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Lt. Col. Jackson distinguished himself as pilot of a C-123 aircraft. Lt. Col. Jackson volunteered to attempt the rescue of a 3-man USAF Combat Control Team from the Special Forces camp at Kham Duc. Hostile forces had overrun the forward outpost and established gun positions on the airstrip. They were raking the camp with small arms, mortars, light and heavy automatic weapons, and recoilless rifle fire. The camp was engulfed in flames and ammunition dumps were continuously exploding and littering the runway with debris. In addition, eight aircraft had been destroyed by the intense enemy fire and one aircraft remained on the runway reducing its usable length to only 2,200 feet. To further complicate the landing, the weather was deteriorating rapidly, thereby permitting only one air strike prior to his landing. Although fully aware of the extreme danger and likely failure of such an attempt. Lt. Col. Jackson elected to land his aircraft and attempt to rescue. Displaying superb airmanship and extraordinary heroism, he landed his aircraft near the point where the combat control team was reported to be hiding. While on the ground, his aircraft was the target of intense hostile fire. A rocket landed in front of the nose of the aircraft but failed to explode. Once the combat control team was aboard, Lt. Col. Jackson succeeded in getting airborne despite the hostile fire directed across the runway in front of his aircraft. Lt. Col. Jackson's profound concern for his fellow men, at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Air Force and reflect great credit upon himself, and the Armed Forces of his country.
Later life
Jackson continued to serve on active duty in the Air Force for several more years, both at the Pentagon and on the faculty of the
In 1997, Col. Jackson was inducted into the Airlift/Tanker Hall of Fame.[5] In 1998, Jackson was inducted into the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame.[6] A section of Georgia State Route 34 in Coweta County, Georgia is named for him.[7]
Jackson died on January 12, 2019, at his home in Orting at the age of 95.[8][9]
See also
Rescue at Kham Duc[permanent dead link]
References
- ^ "NARA - AAD - Display Full Records - Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938 - 1946 (Enlistment Records)". aad.archives.gov. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
- ^ a b "Joe M. Jackson - www.medalofhonorspeakout.org". medalofhonorspeakout.org. Archived from the original on July 17, 2018. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
- ^ a b Mort's Rescue at Khâm Đức, Flying in Crosswinds
- ^ "An Act of Service, Born of Routine". NBC News. May 14, 2010. Retrieved May 14, 2010.
- ^ "Airlift/Tanker Association Hall of Fame 1997". Airlift/Tanker Association.
- ^ "Colonel Joe. M. Jackson". Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on June 2, 2017. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
- newspapers.com.
- ^ Medal of Honor Recipient Joe M. Jackson Passes Away at 95
- ^ Col. Joe Jackson, Medal of Honor hero, dies in Washington state
- "Colonel Joe M. Jackson". Air Force Link. United States Air Force. Archived from the original on February 19, 2007. Retrieved November 21, 2006.