Joe M. Jackson

Joe Madison Jackson (March 14, 1923 – January 12, 2019) served as a career officer in the United States Air Force and received the Medal of Honor for heroism above and beyond the call of duty during the Vietnam War.While the camp was still under heavy enemy fire from North Vietnamese and Viet Cong troops, he skillfully piloted his C-123 cargo plane and rescued the three men.[2] After the United States entered World War II, Jackson was assigned to serve as crew chief aboard a B-25 Mitchell bomber.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."Lt. Col. Jackson volunteered to attempt the rescue of a 3-man USAF Combat Control Team from the Special Forces camp at Kham Duc.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.
The only photo ever to capture actions leading to a Medal of Honor ; Lieutenant Colonel Joe M. Jackson's C-123 (top of photograph) prepares to evacuate the last three men (on runway, right) from Khâm Đức, on 12 May 1968. [ 3 ]
President Johnson (facing Lt. Col. Jackson) congratulates four Medal of Honor recipients at the White House on January 16, 1969
Stone marker honoring Col. Jackson outside Coweta County Courthouse, Newnan, Georgia.
Plaque honoring Jackson at the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame
Joe Jackson (disambiguation)Newnan, GeorgiaOrting, WashingtonArlington National CemeteryUnited States Air ForceUnited States Army Air CorpsColonel311th Air Commando SquadronWorld War IIKorean WarVietnam WarMedal of HonorLegion of MeritDistinguished Flying CrossAir MedalArmy Special ForcesNorth VietnameseViet Congmodel aircraftArmy Air CorpsUnited StatesB-25 Mitchellcommissioned officerP-40 WarhawksP-63 KingcobrasB-24 Liberator524th Fighter SquadronF-84 ThunderjetCuban Missile CrisisAir ForceU-2 DragonladyVietnamC-123 ProviderSouth Vietnamsearch and rescueBattle of Kham DucLyndon B. JohnsonWhite HouseStephen W. Plessthe PentagonAir War Collegeoak leaf clustersAir Force Presidential Unit CitationAir Force Outstanding Unit AwardArmy Good Conduct MedalAmerican Defence Service MedalAmerican Campaign MedalWorld War II Victory MedalArmy of Occupation MedalNational Defense Service Medalservice starKorean Service MedalVietnam Service Medalcampaign starAir Force Longevity Service AwardArmed Forces Reserve MedalSmall Arms Expert Marksmanship RibbonRepublic of Korea Presidential Unit CitationRepublic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit CitationUnited Nations Korea MedalVietnam Campaign MedalKorean War Service MedalGeorgia Aviation Hall of FameWashingtonGeorgia State Route 34Coweta County, GeorgiaAtlanta Constitutionnewspapers.com