Vietnam War hero Jack Jacobs on duty and sacrifice in America’s time of need
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| Photo credit:Wikimedia Commons |
In a recent article, GI Jack from the Chicago Jewish News Online, author Pauline Dubkin Yearwood recounts Medal of Honor recipient, Retired Col. Jack Jacob’s visit to Chicago where he was presented with the 2010 Colby Award, presented by the Tawani Foundation in association with Chicago’s Pritzker Military Library, for his book, If Not Now, When? Duty and Sacrifice in America’s Time of Need, written with Douglas Century.
The $5,000 award, named for former CIA director William E. Colby, recognizes “a first work of fiction or non-fiction that has made a significant contribution to the public’s understanding of intelligence operations, military history or international affairs.” Jacobs accepted it at the library’s Liberty Gala in Chicago.
Ms. Yearwood mentions:
Jacobs’ Medal of Honor heroic action in Vietnam, which he describes in his book, parallels Giunta’s experience in Afghanistan. Then-1st Lt. Jacobs was serving as an advisor to a South Vietnamese infantry battalion in the Mekong Delta and was searching for a group of Vietcong when the battalion was suddenly ambushed. The commander was badly wounded, as was Jacobs, who was hit by mortar shells in the head and eye and could barely see.
Nevertheless he took command, withdrew the rest of the unit to safety and returned to the scene of the attack several times, as intense fire continued, to rescue the wounded. He saved the lives of 13 soldiers and another advisor before passing out from the severity of his wounds.
Like Giunta, he downplays his own sacrifice.”
You can read the rest of this terrific article at Chicago Jewish News Online
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If Not Now, When?: Duty and Sacrifice in America’s Time of Need
A Medal of Honor recipient looks back at his own service-and ahead to America’s future.
Jack Jacobs was acting as an advisor to the South Vietnamese when he and his men came under devastating attack. Wounded, 1st Lt. Jacobs took command and withdrew the unit, returning again and again, saving fourteen lives-for which he received the Medal of Honor.
Here, Col. Jacobs tells his stirring story of heroism, honor, and the personal code by which he has lived his life, and expounds with blunt honesty and insight his views on our contemporary world, and the nature and necessity of sacrifice.
Jack Jacobs on Speak out! Save lives.
The video above is from the project Medal of Honor Speak Out! Save Lives where Medal of Honor recipients – speak out to save lives by encouraging America’s military to seek help when adjusting to life after combat, particularly for post-traumatic stress (PTS).
From the website:
Spread the words of Medal of Honor Recipient Jack Jacobs, Captain, U.S. Army, Vietnam: “The tools and the resources are here now. Make use of them. Stay strong. Don’t let the enemy defeat you at home.” Jacobs and other recipient’s open and honest sentiments may just be the words of encouragement a struggling Service member needs to hear.
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