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Bryan Jackson
Jackson in 2007
Nickname(s)	"BJAX"
Born	NAS Jacksonville, Florida
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	U.S. Army
Years of service	2005–2011
Rank	Captain
Unit	2nd Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Armored Division
Battles/wars	Operation Iraqi Freedom
Awards	Distinguished Service Cross Meritorious Service Medal Purple Heart

Bryan Jackson is a veteran of the U.S. Army. He served in the U.S. Army during the War in Iraq, where in September 2006, he was injured attempting to save his fellow comrades from an ambush. On November 2, 2007, Jackson received the Distinguished Service Cross for his heroic action in Al Anbar Province, Iraq.

Early life and Education

Bryan Jackson was born at NAS Jacksonville, FL. The son of a career Naval Officer, Jackson grew up around the military and attended three high schools. He received an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2001. During the summer of his junior year, Jackson served as a legal intern at the U.S. Embassy, The Hague, Netherlands. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2005.

Military career

On May 28, 2005 Jackson was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He attended Field Artillery Officer Basic Course (FAOBC) at Fort Sill, OK. Shortly thereafter, he was stationed in Giessen Germany and forward-deployed to Al Anbar Province, Iraq to serve under Company A, Task Force 1st Battalion, 36th Infantry Regiment as a Fire Support Officer (FSO). On September 27, 2006 Jackson was injured while attempting to recover a disabled vehicle and provide life-saving first aid to his wounded comrades. He underwent over a dozen surgeries at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. During his recovery, Jackson was awarded the Purple Heart by President George W. Bush. Jackson's later roles included Platoon Leader, Speechwriter and Field Proponency Officer for the Field Artillery branch.

Awards and Decorations

On November 2, 2007, he became the seventh Soldier since the Vietnam War ended in 1975 to receive the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in action. Secretary of the Army Pete Geren awarded the Distinguished Service Cross to Jackson at a ceremony in the Pentagon.

Before the presentation, Lt. Col. Thomas C. Graves, former Task Force commander, recounted part of that September 2006 day when he arrived at the medical aid station to see his wounded Soldiers and the first words to come from 2nd Lt. Jackson were of concern for the wounded captain he'd rescued. "All the leadership schools, classes and years of experience never really prepare you for that moment in time when you are standing among heroes who have given their all, where their first concerns still remain with their fellow Soldiers," he said. "It reinforces duty and commitment unlike any other experience." After Secretary Geren made the award presentation, 1st Lt. Jackson spoke to the packed room, humbly thanking his family, his West Point classmates and the Soldiers he's served with in his short two-year career and saying simply, "I believe I just had to do what I had to do in that situation... I think many Soldiers would have done the same thing."

The official citation reads;

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant (Field Artillery), [then Second Lieutenant] Bryan Jackson, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving as a Company Fire Support Officer with Company A, Task Force 1-36 (1st Battalion, 36th Infantry Regiment), 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Multi-National Corps-Iraq, on 27 September 2006, while engaged in combat operations against an armed insurgent force in Al Anbar Province, Iraq, during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. While recovering a disabled vehicle, Second Lieutenant Jackson's unit came under heavy enemy machine gun fire. Despite the danger, he applied first aid to a severely wounded comrade and was then hit in his thigh with a bullet. Upon regaining consciousness after being shot, Second Lieutenant Jackson alternated between returning fire and administering first aid to the Soldier. Second Lieutenant Jackson was hit again with machine gun fire as he helped carry his wounded comrade to safety, but he never faltered in his aid. Although his own severe wounds required immediate evacuation and surgical care, Second Lieutenant Jackson refused medical assistance until his wounded comrade could be treated. Second Lieutenant Jackson's selfless courage under extreme enemy fire were essential to saving another Soldier's life and are in keeping with the finest traditions of military service, reflecting great credit upon himself, Company A, Task Force 1-36 Infantry, and the United States Army.

Personal life

Jackson was honorably discharged from active duty military service in 2011 and is a member of the Legion of Valor, Military Order of the Purple Heart, and American Veterans Center. He is the newest member of the American Veterans Center Advisory Board and regularly mentors veterans through Veterati. Jackson is a born-again Christian and gives all the glory to Jesus Christ, his Lord and Savior.

Awards and decorations

Jackson's military decorations include the Distinguished Service Cross, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (3rd Award), the Purple Heart, Navy Unit Commendation, Korean Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Combat Action Badge and the Air Assault Badge. In 2008 Jackson was the third West Point graduate to be awarded the Alexander R. Nininger Award for Valor. That same year he also received the Paul Ray Smith Award from the American Veterans Center.

Acceptance speech after receiving the Nininger Award in 2008

See also

• Distinguished Service Cross (United States)
• List of United States Military Academy alumni
• American Veterans Center