Harry H. Jackson – Colonel, United States Army

Harry H. Jackson, 85, a retired Army Colonel, died of cancer January 5, 2008, at his home in the Mount Vernon area of Fairfax County, Virginia.

Colonel Jackson, who served in the Army from 1941 until 1974, fought with the infantry in Italy during World War II and in Korea during the Korean War. He was awarded two Silver Stars, two Legions of Merit, three Bronze Star Medals and two Purple Hearts.

He served with special warfare units at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and with the defense secretary’s Special Operations office at the Pentagon. Twice detailed to Vietnam during the war, he returned to assume command of a civil affairs group and became commandant of the Civil Affairs School at Fort Gordon, Georgia. His last tour was at the JFK Special Warfare Center at Fort Bragg, where he was the school director and then assistant commandant.

In retirement, Colonel Jackson worked with the Fairfax County Electoral Board and the voter registration office, which took him to many county high schools to register new voters.

He was born in Detroit and graduated from the University of Michigan. He received two master’s degrees, one in international relations from Tulane University in 1952 and another in public administration from the University of Maryland in the 1970s.

He was a member of Mount Vernon Unitarian Church. He also was a member of the Retired Military Officers Association and the 88th Infantry Division Association.

A daughter, Christine Jackson, died in 1976.

Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Helen Patricia Jackson of Mount Vernon; a son, Harry Hamilton Jackson of Columbus, Georgia; a sister; and a granddaughter.

HARRY H. JACKSON Harry H. Jackson, age 85, a resident of the Mt. Vernon area of Fairfax County and a 31-year veteran of the United States Army, died of cancer on January 5, 2008. Colonel Jackson served with the 88th Infantry Division in Italy, the 2nd Infantry Division in Korea, and twice in Vietnam in a senior civilian capacity. Following retirement in 1974, he worked with the Fairfax County Electoral Board and the Voter Registration Office. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Helen Patricia Jackson, of the home; by a son, Harry Hamilton Jackson; daughter-in-law, Elsie Jackson and granddaughter, Malia Jackson, all of Columbus, Georgia, and by a sister, Mary Jane Coll of Stamford, Connecticut. He was predeceased by a daughter, Christine, who died in 1976. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 2 from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Mt. Vernon Unitarian Church, 1909 Windmill Lane, Alexandria, Virginia. Interment with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery will follow in the summer. Memorial contributions in his name may be made to the Mt. Vernon Unitarian Church or to Community Hospice of Virginia, 520 N. Washington St., Falls Church, Virginia 22046.

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard