#VeteranOfTheDay Army Veteran Orville Joseph Jackson

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Army Veteran Orville Joseph Jackson, captured and held as a prisoner of war during World War II.

Orville Joseph Jackson was a farmhand with his family in Iowa when the Army drafted him in October 1942. He entered service at Camp Dodge then later moved to Louisiana for additional training. Jackson became the armorer-artificer for his company in the 103rd Division, 409th Infantry. Afterward, Jackson went to Camp Howze for about a year before he shipped out to Europe.

In October 1944, Jackson fought in the Vosges Mountains. In December 1944, German tanks surrounded and fired upon the house Jackson and some other soldiers were in. Wounded in this engagement, the Germans captured him as a prisoner of war.

After treatment for injuries, Jackson transferred to a prisoner of war camp. Jackson endured life as a prisoner of war for several months until forces liberated the camp in April 1945.

Processed in France and soon returning to the United States, Jackson received a 71-day furlough to recover in Arkansas.  During this furlough, Jackson received an honorable medical discharge in October 1945 at the rank of sergeant.

For his service, Jackson earned a Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, two Battle Stars, Prisoner of War Medal, French Legion of Honor and other decorations.

After returning home, Jackson went to barber college in Cedar Rapids. He would own a barber shop in Bellevue for over 20 years. He became a security guard at Savannah Army Depot and started a family. Jackson also kept in touch with the Veteran community, including friends from when he served. He often traveled to reunions. Jackson also participated in a 2010 Honor Flight.

He passed away in May 2018 at the age of 96.

We honor his service.

Additional material can be found about his story at the Veteran’s History Project at: https://memory.loc.gov/diglib/vhp/story/loc.natlib.afc2001001.02989/

Nominate a Veteran for #VeteranOfTheDay

Do you want to light up the face of a special Veteran? Have you been wondering how to tell your Veteran they are special to you? VA’s #VeteranOfTheDay social media feature is an opportunity to highlight your Veteran and his/her service.

It’s easy to nominate a Veteran. All it takes is an email to newmedia@va.gov with as much information as you can put together, along with some good photos. Visit our blog post about nominating to learn how to create the best submission.

Veterans History Project

This #VeteranOfTheDay profile was created with interviews submitted to the Veterans History Project. The project collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war Veterans so that future generations may hear directly from Veterans and better understand the realities of war. Find out more at http://www.loc.gov/vets/.

Contributors

Editor: Michelle Cannon 

Fact checker: Vivian Hurney

Graphic artist: Tenzin Chomphel