Warbird Information Exchange

A friend of ours, traveling from DWF up to Seattle, sat next to an interesting gentleman. In chatting through the trip, it came out that he is a MoH winner. Made the miles fly by, just quite the gentleman. Received his MoH commendation for a "hot zone" rescue mission in a C-123 (and you thought fighter jocks got all the glory!). A brief accounting of this chance encounter is here
http://networkedblogs.com/p7184049

You never know who you will be sitting next to next time you fly, so behave and play nice!

Not opening the link my guess would be Joe Jackson who's a very nice fellow!!!

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Don't touch my junk!!

You would be most correct. Joe Jackson, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Air Force, 311th Air Commando Squadron, Da Nang. Described as a spry, elderly gentleman. At 86, his eyes are giving him some trouble. He was traveling from an artist studio, where they are making a statue of him for his hometown, Newnan GA, to erect in his honor. Apparently Two HoH recipients from Newnan to be honored. They must have been teaching something right there in Newnan.

Its just the name, Newman!

Gary

Read Lt Col. Jackson's story several times, the J of AAHS has a great article on several heroic Provider missions. What unsung heroes, both the machines and the men who made her that way.

If anyone is interested in reading the article I will find out which Vol/Issue it was and post.

Gary

Citation: 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, 8 aircraft had been destroyed by the intense enemy fire and 1 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 1 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 fellowmen, 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.

Is it Newman or Newnan Georgia? If it's Newnan, I wonder if he is related to the Country Singer Alan Jackson?

It does seem to be Newnan, though it is misspelled all over the net! Too easy to do! Don't know about an Alan Jackson connection but you never know, it is a smallish town!

Hummmmm. Just Googled Newman, Ga and all I got was listings for NewNAN. Interesting...

If you don't know the name of a place it is hard to Google, if the article you get it from is spelled wrong, it is easy to copy it wrong!

The most ignored mil airplane in the AF

Great pics! A true workhorse of an AC and the crews that took her kind into harms way! Get the Bombs, bullets and beans in and get the wounded out. Probably did not think that is what they would be doing when they got pushed into multi-engined transport!

This is interesting while taking nothing away from this fine gentleman;

"Lt Col Jackson was the Squadron Commanding Officer [CO] and was assumed to be flying the 123. He was in fact the co-pilot. The captain of the aircraft was of Captain rank and received no recognition. Thus, this MOH was very controversial."

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..defeat is never an option!

Jackson read me the oath of office when I Commissioned as a USAF officer in 1995. He was relatively active with the AFROTC program at the University of Washington when I was there. A very humble gentleman.

Just as an aside...people who are awarded medals for gallantry aren't "winners" of that medal; it's not an Olympic competition.

Randy, you are of course correct. That quote was not mine but rather from another source who was an MOH nominee in SVN...

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..defeat is never an option!

I've previously mentioned a dear friend who was with the 6th SOS flying the Skyraider. Several months ago he loaned me a book (see #7 below) on the Kham Duc evacuation which led to this MoH incident. He also shared with me an actual audio recording made during the battle by one of the USAF ALOs. It was during the battle that the 6th SOS squadron commander was shot down and later rescued. My friend participated in the battle as well, including strikes on the camp once everyone was finally evacuated. Another fascinating and tragic sub chapter in what is a largely forgotten war.

Ken

U.S. Air Force. USAF Southeast Asia Monograph Series, edited by Arthur J.C. Lavalle. Washington, Department of the Air Force, 1975-1979. 9 Monographs in 7 vols.
"For the general reader, these stories tell of airpower in human terms and should give some understanding of the spirit, courage, and professionalism of our U.S. airmen. To the student of airpower interested in improving the effectiveness of our Air Force, the monographs make an excellent case study of tactical air doctrine." (Quoted from the Foreword by David J. Jones, General, USAF).
Monograph 1. The Tale of Two Bridges, by Col Delbert Corum and others
Monograph 2. The Battle for the Skies Over North Vietnam 1964-1972, by Maj Paul Burbage and others.
Monograph 3. Airpower and the 1972 Spring Invasion, by Col John A. Doglione and others.
Monograph 4. The Vietnamese Air Force, 1951-1975, An Analysis of Its Role in Combat, by William W. Momyer, Gen, USAF, Ret.
Monograph 5. Fourteen Hours at Koh Tang, 29 December 1975, by Capt Thomas D. Des Brisay.
Monograph 6. Last Flight From Saigon, by Thomas G. Tobin, LtCol, USAF.
Monograph 7. Airpower and the Airlift Evacuation of Kham Duc, by LtCol Alan L. Gropman.
http://www.airforcehistory.hq.af.mil/Pu ... hamdoc.pdf
Monograph 8. LINEBACKER II: A View From the Rock, by BrigGen James R. McCarthy and LtCol George B. Allison.
Monograph 9. Air Force Heroes in Vietnam, by Maj Donald K. Schneider.
Also available online at: http://www.airforcehistory.hq.af.mil/Pu ... EAmono.htm
Book call no.: 959 A2981u 7 vols.

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"Take care of the little things and the big things will take care of themselves."