William Jackson
Private, U.S. Army

William Jackson was the son of Eugene and Samella Jackson.

On 15 March 1969, Private William Jackson was serving with Company C, 3rd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, Americal Division, in South Vietnam.

On that day, PVT Jackson's Company C was on a combat sweep operation near the village of Tap An Bac, about 20 miles southeast of Quang Ngai City. While his unit was making its way through thick underbrush, hedgerows and clusters of bamboo, several small groups of North Vietnamese soldiers were spotted. Searching the dense terrain, PVT Jackson saw 4 enemy troops moving to a bunker and opened fire, single-handedly killing all 4 and capturing their weapons. As his element continued forward, it came under fire from a hostile fortification that wounded the radio-telephone operator. PVT Jackson exposed himself to the communists to draw their attention and to place accurate return fire, enabling 2 men to rescue the casualty. When he and his comrades were securing the area so the wounded man could be evacuated, they began to receive heavy fire from another enemy position. Shooting his rifle and hurling hand grenades, PVT Jackson made a direct assault on the stronghold and succeeded in silencing it. An ambulance helicopter began to land, but was engulfed by enemy fire. PVT Jackson the heavy fire to engage the aggressors, and was mortally wounded by the fusillade. PVT Jackson's courageous actions and extraordinary heroism, at the cost of his life, earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Bronze Star Medal (Merit)
Purple Heart
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Combat Infantryman Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Private William Jackson (ASN: RA-12771906), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company C, 3d Battalion, 1st Infantry, Americal Division. Private Jackson distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 15 March 1969 during a combat sweep operation near the village of Tap An Bac, approximately twenty miles southeast of Quang Ngai City. While his unit was making its way through thick underbrush, hedgerows and clusters of bamboo, several small groups of North Vietnamese soldiers were spotted. Searching the dense terrain, Specialist Jackson saw four enemy troops moving to a bunker and immediately opened fire, single-handedly killing all four and capturing their weapons. As his element continued forward, it came under fire from a hostile fortification which wounded the radio-telephone operator. Private Jackson courageously exposed himself to the communists to draw their attention and to place accurate return fire, enabling two men to rescue the casualty. When he and his comrades were securing the area so the wounded man could be evacuated, they started to receive heavy fire from another enemy position. Shooting his rifle and hurling hand grenades, Private Jackson made a direct assault on the stronghold and succeeded in silencing it. An ambulance helicopter began to land, but was engulfed by enemy fire. Private Jackson braved a hail of bullets to engage the aggressors, and was mortally wounded by the hostile fusillade. Private Jackson's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 1855 (May 23, 1969)

Honors

The name William Jackson is located on Panel 29W Line 50 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

Burial

Private William Jackson was buried at Machpelah Cemetery in North Bergen, Hudson County, NJ, on 27 March 1969.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/166247991/william-jackson