My Quest to get Harry Jackson the Medal of Honor

The past few days, I have been overwhelmed by people's responses to my post to help with the petition to upgrade Harry Jackson's Silver Star to a Medal of Honor. A few months ago, I put together the letter below with supporting documentation for Harry Jackson who jumped on a grenade and saved at least two, possible three, brother Marines. I have written Senators and a Congresswoman, and the Marine Corps, but have not received any support so far. People have offered to write these people themselves. Below I include the letter I wrote to these people---but they HAVE DONE NOTHING. The evidence is not shown here, but if any of you would like to see it, I can send it to you. The letter is lengthy, but hopefully logically argued. If you feel so inclined, please write the following people listed here about Harry Jackson and ask that his case be looked at, reviewed and approved.

I think my arguments and case studies speak for themselves below:

Ms. B. J. Hill/USMC Commandant General David Berger

Military Awards Branch

Headquarters United States Marine Corps

2008 Elliot Road

Quantico, VA 22134-5103

Congresswoman Elaine Luria

382 Constitution Dr.

One Columbus Center, Suite 900

Virginia Beach, VA 23462

Senator Mark R. Warner

101 W. Main Str. Suite 7771

Norfolk, VA, 23510

Senator Tim Kaine

United States Senate

231 Russell Senate Office Building

Washington, D.C. 20510

"Petition for the Medal of Honor for USMC Private First Class Harry Lee Jackson

Upgrade of Silver Star to Medal of Honor

By: Bryan Mark Rigg, PhD, author of Flamethrower: Iwo Jima Medal off Honor Recipient and US. Marine Woody Williams and His Controversial Award, Japan’s Holocaust and the Pacific War

11 May 2021

In the course of reviewing 18 Iwo Jima Medal of Honor cases, and dozens of Navy Cross and Silver Star cases, all in the National Archives from the Personnel Records Branch of the United States Military in St. Louis, Missouri, I have found one case that should be looked at once again for consideration for the Medal of Honor. Here is the story of what Harry Lee Jackson did on Iwo Jima using his personnel file and first-person testimonies from a Marine Corps Correspondent Frederick Knowles “Dick” Dashiell (new evidence for Jackson’s case) (See Appendix 1).

In the front lines of Iwo Jima while “on outpost duty on the northern end of the island” on 19 March 1945, Private First Class Harry L. Jackson of K Company, 3rd Battalion, 21st Marines, 3rd Marine Division (MarDiv), jumped on a grenade to save at least two comrades who can be named, Harvey Ellis and Troy Gardner, and survived but with horrible injuries receiving a Silver Star (Temporary Citation signed by Lieutenant General Holland “Howlin’ Mad” Smith) (See Appendices 1-2). During a public ceremony in Philadelphia probably in October 1945, Colonel William D. Hall, commanding officer of the Marine Corps detachment at the Navy Yard there, presented the Silver Star to Jackson in front of hundreds of Marines. Jackson sat in a chair in front of the formation with it being quite noticeable that he was missing a leg and arm (See Appendix 38). He would receive his permanent citation for his Silver Star from USMC Commandant, General C.B. Cates, on 5 August 1948 and it would be signed by the Secretary of the Navy, John L. Sullivan (See Appendix 3). According to his citation, he saved three comrades (Tory Gardner, Harvey Ellis and a third unnamed comrade) (See Appendices 2-3). Jackson’s comrade, Ellis, got hit with some shrapnel in his back, but he observed that Jackson had smothered the grenade, and thereafter, was up “hopping around on one leg and holding his right arm. I saw that his right knee-cap had been blown off” (See Appendix 1). Ellis testified that this selfless act was typical for Jackson since he was always running around to help his comrades with food, ammunition or wounds: “always helping the fellows” (See Appendix 1). Jackson probably survived because he first placed his helmet over the grenade and then his body over the helmet, showing not only selflessness here, but also quick thinking and intelligence. He is the only person I have documented in WWII who performed this incredible act taking his helmet off to “cushion” the blast—everyone had helmets on Iwo, but only Jackson used it in this way, helping not only protect himself, but also others. His helmet was later found 15 feet away in another foxhole of PFC Charles H. Shields (See Appendices 1, 4). Buddies and a Corpsman rendered aid to Jackson while others nearby located the Japanese soldier who had thrown the grenade; he was in a crater 25 feet in front of the lines, and they riddled him with bullets according to Shields (See Appendix 1). Jackson lost his right leg at a field hospital and later, his right arm was amputated in a rear hospital “while the medical officers fought to save his right eye” according to Marine Corps Correspondent, Sergeant Frederick Knowles “Dick” Dashiell (See Appendix 1). The “guillotine amputations” took away his right arm “just below the elbow” and his “left leg through [the] mid-thigh” according to his medical records (See Appendix 5). There was no saving his left eye and doctors would hollow out his orb and pack it full of gauze unable to save his eyeball—they “enucleated” it (See Appendix 5). His vision in his right eye was also reduced (See Appendix 5). Fleet Marine Force commander, General Holland M. “Howlin Mad” Smith, signed off on his Purple Heart on 2 April 1945 (See Appendix 6).

During interviews with Harry Lee Jackson’s children in July 2020, Harry L. Jackson Jr., Kay Gramling and Rhonda Doak, they told me further interesting stories about their heroic father. I learned that Harry Lee Jackson, although having a hook for a right arm, a prosthetic leg and a glass eye, never let his injuries slow him down. The explosion had left him with red-blue freckles across his forehead and cheeks where the shrapnel spray had left its mark, especially across his fair skinned brow, common for redheads like him. He had phantom pains throughout his life and took Tylenol instead of taking opiates because he did not want to become addicted—he was never going to get hooked on drugs. He learned this the hard way since the military had often given him morphine in 1945 to deal with his pain, a drug addiction he had a difficult time getting off of during the military “hating” the Corpsman and doctor who had originally given it to him, only to have it taken away from him forcing him to deal with his pain---a lesson he was glad to learn. Moreover, another disability he had, which was not fully documented but needs mentioning is that Jackson lost much of his hearing having a grenade go off by his head and he struggled with this aliment his entire life.

During his adult life, Jackson worked at the Naval Yards in Norfolk, Virginia, as a supply clerk and earned a good living for his family. He handled his disabilities in such a dignified way and was such a productive employee despite his handicaps that the Naval Air Station command at Norfolk, Virginia, picked him in 1953 as an example to be used as an excellent model for others of the importance of hiring those with disabilities (See Appendix 39). He learned how to drive with his artificial limbs, type with one hand, play sports, work out (even doing push-ups) and raised three children. He made sure his children took advantage of the GI bill since they could go to college for free due to his horrible injuries and they all three earned undergraduate degrees and became teachers. In fact, the two daughters even went on to received master’s degrees—he made sure his kids were better educated than he was giving them more opportunities in life. He provided an incredible example of a father who never complained about his injuries or lot in life (his son quipped, “this is an understatement—he was always positive”).

As a testament to his good attitude and determination as a human being, his high school sweetheart Elnora Ball stayed with him after the war and they married and had a family together. He was a Marine through and through, often wearing a big belt-buckle with the Marine Corps emblem of the Eagle, Globe and Anchor. He would hear kids call him “Captain Hook” behind his back, but he never showed any irritation at their ignorance or taunts. He had a great sense of humor. He would make light of occasional struggles due to his injuries, like the time he was in a movie theater and laughed so hard his glass eye popped out and skidded down the aisle to the front of the auditorium. Luckily, the eye did not break and, after the show, he walked down the aisle laughing all the way, retrieved his eye, washed it in the men’s room and then stuck it back into its orb. Another time, he drove cross-country in his Winnebago using “Captain Hook” as his call sign on his citizen’s band radio (which is widely used by truckers) showing his self-deprecating humor and displaying, observably, a healthy self-esteem. He passed away at the age of 82 in 2007 and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery alongside thousands of other brave American patriots. He especially wanted to be buried there because he knew other Marines were there too, and he wanted to be with his brothers.

Now here is the case for upgrading PFC Harry Lee Jackson’s Silver Star to a Medal of Honor for jumping on a grenade and saving his fellow Marines. Seven earned the Medal on Iwo this way; 17-year-old Jack Lucas was the only MOH recipient to survive such a heroic act on Iwo (See Appendix 7). Iwo Jima combatants PFC William R. Caddy, PFC James Dennis La Belle, Private George Phillips, and Gunnery Sergeant William Gary Walsh all covered grenades and saved the lives of their buddies with no further action mentioned in their citations, all of which were for posthumous Medals of Honor (See Appendices 8-11). PFC Donald J Ruhl received a Medal of Honor for jumping on a grenade to save a comrade and his other heroic actions in combat were cited as well (See Appendix 12). Corpsman John Harlan Willis, while taking care of the wounded, threw some grenades back until he was too slow with one and it exploded in his hand and killed him (See Appendix 13). Now since Jackson’s actions are the most similar to Lucas (especially since they both survive this act!), let’s analyze Lucas’ citation and then analyze Jackson’s deeds in relationship to Lucas’ brave acts.

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the First Battalion, Twenty-sixth Marines, Fifth Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands 20 February 1945. While creeping through a treacherous, twisting ravine which ran in close proximity to a fluid and uncertain front line on D-plus+1 Day, Private First Class Lucas and three other men were suddenly ambushed by a hostile patrol which savagely attacked with rifle fire and grenades. Quick to act when the lives of the small group were endangered by two grenades which landed directly in front of them, Private First Class Lucas unhesitatingly hurled himself over his comrades upon one grenade and pulled the other one under him, absorbing the whole blasting force of the explosions in his own body in order to shield his companions from the concussion and murderous flying fragments [Jackson did the same thing here as Lucas]. By his inspiring action and valiant spirit of self-sacrifice, he not only protected his comrades from certain injury or possible death, but also enabled them to rout the Japanese patrol and continue the advance. His exceptionally courageous initiative and loyalty reflect the highest credit upon Private First Class Lucas and the United States Naval Service. (See Appendix 7)

This citation could also have been written for PFC Harry Lee Jackson since he DID THE SAME THING as LUCAS. When one explores the Iwo Jima combatants cited here who did the same thing as Jackson, i.e. jump on a grenade to save comrades, and then further looks at these case studies and the logic behind them receiving this award, it is without a shadow of a doubt that Harry Lee Jackson should have his Silver Star upgraded to a Medal of Honor.

In addition to these Iwo Jima veterans who received the MOH for the same acts Jackson did, we also have other men throughout American history who received the MOH for the same act of jumping on a grenade and/or an explosive device to save their comrades. Lance Corporal Richard Anderson did this Vietnam in 1969 (See Appendix 14). Corporal Anthony Damato did this on Eniwetok in WWII in 1944 (See Appendix 15). Corporal John P. Fardy did this on Okinawa in WWII in 1945 (See Appendix 16). PFC William A. Foster did this on Okinawa in WWII in 1945 (See Appendix 17). PFC Henry Gurke did this on Bougainville in WWII in 1943 (See Appendix 18). Sergeant Elbert Kinser did this on Okinawa in WWII in 1945 (See Appendix 19). PFC Richard Kraus did this on Peliliu in WWII in 1944 (See Appendix 20). PFC John New did this on Peliliu in WWII in 1944 (See Appendix 21). Private Joseph Ozbourn did this on Tinian in WWII in 1944 (See Appendix 22). PFC Wesley Phelps did this on Peleliu in WWII in 1944 (See Appendix 23). PFC Charles Roan did this on Peleliu in WWII in 1944 (See Appendix 24). First Lieutenant Carlton Rouh did this on Peliliu in WWII in 1944 (See Appendix 25). Private Richard Sorenson did this on Kwajalein in WWII in 1944 (See Appendix 26). Sergeant Herbert Thomas did this on Bougainville in WWII in 1943 (See Appendix 27). PFC Robert Wilson did this on Tinian in WWII in 1944 (See Appendix 28). And Army Captain Florent Groberg did something similar in Afghanistan pushing someone with a suicide vest away from his comrades saving them when the person blew himself up during the War on Terror in 2012 (See Appendix 29). Groberg actually incurred no injuries himself although he definitely put himself in harm’s way---remember, Jackson was severely injured for what he did. So, here are 15 (excluding Groberg) additional men documented with the seven from Iwo Jima who received the Medal of Honor for jumping on grenades to save their buddies, just as Harry Jackson did.

Now, in a letter to the Jackson family from 12 November 2020, Head of Policy and Verification Section of the Military Awards Branch, GS-11 Betty J. Hill writes that an award, once it has already been awarded, can only be changed “when the officer who originated the recommendation or another officer who has personal, first hand, knowledge of [the action], submits new, substantive, and materially relevant evidence that was not presented or was not available when the original award was considered” (See Appendix 30). This is an absurd claim and GS-11 Hill is incorrect in her understanding of how the MOH has been awarded in the past as this document will soon prove. GS-11 Hill also claims that two affidavits have to be signed by witnesses (See Appendix 30). Once again, this is absurd since the witnesses are all dead. However, the new documentation presented here shows that Dashiell vetted the witnesses, one of them being Ellis, theoretically giving the two pieces of documentation GS-11 Hill is searching for; namely, Dashiell’s Report and the Silver Star Citation (See Appendix 1).

Nonetheless, there have been many medals upgraded without an officer who originated an award changing his medal to a higher one for a subordinate, or another officer stepping forward with first-hand knowledge of the act to endorse the new endorsement for another award. In other words, there have been countless awards, which the following case studies will show, that did not require an officer to step forward to help the process or two new affidavits to be obtained by eye-witnesses since the evidence spoke for itself. Again, GS-11 Hill is wrong on many of her statements.

For example, Sergeant William Shemin, 97 years after his act against the Germans in WWI, received the Medal of Honor from President Barrack Obama, having it upgraded from a Distinguished Service Cross. When the medal was awarded, President Obama said, “We are a nation, a people who remember heroes. We never forget their sacrifice, and we believe that it is never too late to say thank you” (See Appendix 31). GS-11 Hill, in her letter to the Jackson family, obviously is ignoring what happened to Shemin, ignoring what Obama did for him, ignoring that Shemin did not have an officer who could put him in for an award or upgrade, just like Jackson, because they are all dead! Using Shemin as an example, Jackson should receive the Medal of Honor because the evidence is overwhelming of what he did. It may take an “Act of Congress,” like with Shemin, which, in the end, had to have help from Representative Blaine Luetkemeyer in 2010 to make it happen (especially since it looks like Hill is not a person to rely on to do her research). However, with Jackson, it would be nice if the military powers reading this package for Jackson would just go out of their way to help the Jackson family do so. Let’s not forget that President Theodore Roosevelt only received his Medal of Honor in 2001 for his actions as an officer in the Rough Riders in our war against Spain in 1898 (no witnesses or officer endorsements were collected, because, once again, those men were definitely all dead by then).

In yet another case, with it being concerned with Captain Ben Louis Saloman, the reinterpretation of his heroic acts on Saipan against the Japanese in 1944 eventually led to his receiving the MOH in 2002. In the Jackson’s case, with the new evidence submitted with the Dashiell report and the case studies of other MOH showing Jackson did the same as them, Jackson should receive the MOH (See Appendix 32). Congressman Brad Sherman finally had to sponsor legislation that allowed the slow wheels of justice to finally turn enough to get Saloman’s case reviewed and approved, but should we have to wait longer on this case for Jackson? When President George Bush presented the medal to a representative for Saloman’s family (for there were no more living relatives to be found), he said, “Captain Salomon…never lived to wear this medal, but [he] will be honored forever in the memory of our country” (See Appendix 32). I hope we get the MOH for Jackson while his children or still alive so we can honor the family. You who are reading this letter, will you help Jackson be honored forever in the memory of our country? It would be nice if the U.S. Navy and the United States Marine Corps would make sure Jackson received an award they should have presented to him back in 1945 instead of having to wait on a politician to help one of their own like we have seen with Shermin and Saloman. Pacific War historian Edmond Love, who has studied numerous MOH cases and upgrades, and who helped with Saloman’s case, said of Saloman, “I do not know of a man more richly deserving of this high honor than Captain Salomon” (See Appendix 32). Well, as a WWII and Pacific War historian, I say the same about Jackson.

And I want to present yet another case that did not have officers in the chain of command recommending a MOH that ultimately resulted in a MOH being awarded. Holocaust survivor Corporal Tibor Rubin performed heroic acts in Korea in 1953 that were only recognized in 2005. When Tibor finally was presented this award from President George Bush, he called it “the highest honor of the best country in the world.” Bush would conclude his remarks with “[T]oday, a grateful America bestows this award on a true son of liberty” (See Appendix 33).

There was another Korean veteran who received his award later, in this case 2014, without an officer putting him in for the award and without new evidence being presented. It was for PFC Leonard Martin Kravitz. He is the uncle of the famous Rock Star, Lenny Kravtiz (See Appendix 34). Once again, we see a MOH given on the merits of the actions and not from the submission of an officer who admits during his lifetime that a mistake was made in the medal that was originally given. This speaks volumes for Jackson to receive the MOH. Just like Kravtiz’s officers made a mistake back in 1951 about his award, Jackson’s officer made the same mistake back in 1945 about his medal.

And just in case I have not made myself clear, here are four other cases of persons who received the MOH without an officer putting him in for it or without “new” evidence being supplied. The first one details First Lieutenant Donald K. Schwab who performed heroic acts against the Nazis in 1944 in France, but only received his MOH in 2014. And it looks like this Gentleman did not benefit from the recent legislation that helps minorities get deserving awards they were denied due to their genetic background since he was a Caucasian Christian. He was awarded the MOH on the merits of his deeds reported in 1944, but not fully understood until 2014 when the award was given to him. The military officials stated that “while the ethnicity or religious affiliation of some upgrades was uncertain… their battlefield actions were found to deserve the highest honor” (See Appendix 35).

The second case was PFC William F. Leonard who also finally received his MOH in 2014 too like Schwab after he performed his deeds in France, as well, in 1944 against the Germans. Although Gentile and Christian, just like Jackson, his Distinguished Service Cross was upgraded on information gathered in 1944 (See Appendix 36). Jackson should be accorded the same respect.

The third case happened to Sergeant Alfred B. Nietzel. Like Schwab and Leonard, he fought the Nazis in 1944 in Germany and only received his MOH in 2014. Like the other two just mentioned, his medal was awarded based on evidence documented in WWII, just like Jackson (See Appendix 37).

The last case happened to Sergeant Jack Weinstein, apparently a Gentile and Christian, for his acts in 1951 in Korea that were only, once again, recognized in 2014 in awarding him a MOH (See Appendix 38).

Another interesting fact to note is that WWII cases are continually being reviewed all the time, and Jackson should benefit from how others have been upgraded to MOHs. During Bill Clinton’s presidency (1993-01), many Japanese-Americans who fought in Europe in WWII were awarded MOHs; the Medals had been denied them during or after the war due to bigotry. Many of these MOHs were presented without having an officer putting the person in for an award or upgrade. I, as a Marine Corps officer and WWII historian, say the same thing about Jackson. After studying dozens of MOH cases, I do not know a person who is more richly deserving of the MOH than Harry Jackson.

As the evidence just shown, there are countless MOHs awarded to deserving candidates who did not have officers put them in for it or new eye-witnesses discovered to give statements. GS-11 Hill is incorrect on both issues. Moreover, I want to point out something that is absolutely insulting that Hill assumes from her letter; namely, that the Jackson family is disgruntled over this award suddenly after 80 years. Her exact words were: “Dissatisfaction with the level of an approved award is not a basis for reconsideration” (See Appendix 30). For the record, the Jackson family has only become aware of the exact history of their father’s regiment and division through my research and learned that their father deserves a MOH through my research by seeing that countless others did the same thing their father did and received the MOH when he did not. What red-blooded American would not want to honor their deceased father for heroic acts he rendered for his nation and fellow comrades? Dissatisfaction? How about “wanting to honor their father,” or “desiring proper acknowledgement for their father,” or “let’s honor a hero, their father, by applying the same standards we have to other heroes?” Maybe GS-11 Hill, if she had the milk-of-human-kindness in her or had a better understanding of psychology and the English language, would recognize that the Jackson family is not doing this because they are upset (i.e. dissatisfied or unhappy), but rather, they are doing this out of a sincere passion for filial piety (i.e., deep reverence for their forefathers, their ancestors, their fellow citizens). If we fail to honor the past deeds of those who built up this great nation, we fail to honor the very freedom they have allowed us to enjoy. Maybe GS-11 Hill can agree with these sentiments. The Family has all agreed that if the MOH is awarded to their father, they will donate it to either the Marine Corps Museum in Quantico, Virginia or the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Museum in San Diego, California.

Having reviewed all these men who received the MOH for similar acts in this document, and looking at previous presidents who have awarded and/or upgraded MOHs without an officer known to the candidate endorsing or re-instating the process for a MOH and/or having two new affidavits from eye-witnesses, the MOH must also be awarded to Harry Jackson. Here is my sample citation using Lucas’s above as a boiler plate example of how to award Jackson with a Medal of Honor for the same act that Lucas performed.

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with K Company, 3rd Battalion, 21st Marines, 3rd Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands 20 March 1945. While on outpost duty on the northern end of the island of Iwo Jima, Private First Class Harry Lee Jackson and three other men were suddenly ambushed by a hidden Japanese soldier with a grenade. Quick to act when the lives of at least two, possibly three, fellow Marines were endangered by a grenade which landed directly in the middle of them, Private First Class Jackson unhesitatingly first placed his helmet over the grenade and then his body over the helmet absorbing the whole blasting force of the explosions in his own body. He did this in order to shield his companions from the concussion and murderous flying fragments which saved at least two of his comrades. Jackson survived the blast, but would lose an arm, a leg, an eye and much of his hearing by doing this brave and selfless act. By his inspiring action and valiant spirit of self-sacrifice, he not only protected his comrades from certain injury or possible death, but also enabled them to rout the Japanese ambush and eliminate the threat. His exceptionally courageous initiative and loyalty reflect the highest credit upon Private First Class Jackson and the United States Naval Service.

In light of the new evidence presented here from Dashiell’s records both in the Marine Corps Historical Division in Quantico, Virginia, and the National Archives in College Park, Maryland, and in light that Jackson’s acts mirror the acts of at least seven other Medal of Honor recipients from Iwo Jima most closely resembling that of PFC Jack Lucas, as well as an additional 16 other men from other conflicts in the past, it is requested of the Marine Corps Awards and Decoration Board to upgrade Jackson’s Silver Star to the Medal of Honor. In conclusion, to repeat and reiterate, it has been also proven in this document that countless MOHs have been awarded without the person’s officers having to re-initiate it or having witnesses give new affidavits (almost impossible to do now since the vast majority of such people from WWII are deceased). To claim this must happen in Jackson case is discriminatory, unjust and un-American.

Sincerely Yours,

Bryan Mark Rigg, PhD"