| Jack H. Jacobs | |
|---|---|
| born August 2 1945 | |
 Medal of Honor recipient |
|
| Service/branch | U.S. Army |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
| Awards | Medal of Honor Silver Star (2) Bronze Star (3) Purple Heart (2) |
| Other work | Bankers Trust Council on Foreign Relations Medal of Honor Foundation NBC/MSNBC military analyst |
Jack H. Jacobs (born August 2, 1945 in Brooklyn, New York) is a retired Colonel in the United States Army and a Medal of Honor recipient for his heroic actions during the Vietnam War. He currently serves as a military analyst for MSNBC and previously worked as an investment manager.
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Biography
Jack Jacobs, entered military service through Rutgers University ROTC, earned the Medal of Honor in 1969 for exceptional heroism on the battlefields of Vietnam. He also holds three Bronze Stars, two Silver Stars, and two Purple Heart Medals. Jacobs was an advisor to a Vietnamese infantry battalion when it came under a devastating fire that disabled the commander. Although bleeding from severe head wounds, then 1st Lt. Jacobs took command, withdrew the unit to safety, and returned again and again under intense fire to rescue the wounded and perform life-saving first aid. He saved the lives of a U.S. advisor and 13 allied soldiers. Jacobs served on the faculty of the United States Military Academy at West Point and the National War College in Washington, D.C. After retirement, he founded and was chief operating officer of Auto Finance Group. As a managing director of Bankers Trust Co., he led Global Investment Management to $2.2 billion in assets and later co-founded a similar business for Lehman Brothers. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and is the Vice Chairman of the Medal of Honor Foundation. He is also a military analyst for NBC/MSNBC. Jacobs is married, has a grown daughter and two sons, and he lives in Far Hills, New Jersey. He has also been a resident of the Millington section of Long Hill Township, New Jersey.[1]
Medal of Honor
Citation:
- For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Capt. Jacobs (then 1st Lt.), Infantry, distinguished himself while serving as assistant battalion advisor, 2d Battalion, 16th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division, Army of the Republic of Vietnam. The 2d Battalion was advancing to contact when it came under intense heavy machine gun and mortar fire from a Viet Cong battalion positioned in well fortified bunkers. As the 2d Battalion deployed into attack formation its advance was halted by devastating fire. Capt. Jacobs, with the command element of the lead company, called for and directed air strikes on the enemy positions to facilitate a renewed attack. Due to the intensity of the enemy fire and heavy casualties to the command group, including the company commander, the attack stopped and the friendly troops became disorganized. Although wounded by mortar fragments, Capt. Jacobs assumed command of the allied company, ordered a withdrawal from the exposed position and established a defensive perimeter. Despite profuse bleeding from head wounds which impaired his vision, Capt. Jacobs, with complete disregard for his safety, returned under intense fire to evacuate a seriously wounded advisor to the safety of a wooded area where he administered lifesaving first aid. He then returned through heavy automatic weapons fire to evacuate the wounded company commander. Capt. Jacobs made repeated trips across the fire-swept open rice paddies evacuating wounded and their weapons. On 3 separate occasions, Capt. Jacobs contacted and drove off Viet Cong squads who were searching for allied wounded and weapons, single-handedly killing 3 and wounding several others. His gallant actions and extraordinary heroism saved the lives of 1 U.S. advisor and 13 allied soldiers. Through his effort the allied company was restored to an effective fighting unit and prevented defeat of the friendly forces by a strong and determined enemy. Capt. Jacobs, by his gallantry and bravery in action in the highest traditions of the military service, has reflected great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
See also
References
- ^ James, George. "COMMUNITIES; Those Whom We Honor", The New York Times, May 28, 2000. Accessed December 19, 2007. "Especially now, said Jack H. Jacobs, who received his medal for his service in Vietnam, as he recently sat sipping coffee in the kitchen of his big Victorian house in Millington."
