John B. Jackson, Jr.
Bio
John B. Jackson was born April 16, 1931, in Carthage, Texas. His family relocated to Marshall, Texas, to pursue a better high school education for their children. Soon after his graduation, he was drafted into the United States Army, though he had no interest in serving after having heard the many war stories from his uncles and older brothers who had served in previous wars. He was anxious and afraid yet persevered and fulfilled his duty with courage. As his ship pulled away from San Francisco and passed by the Golden Gate Bridge, he and others stood on deck and cried for none of them had ever left home, let alone to fight in a war in a strange country. Although he was glad to have helped the Korean people fight for democracy, he never understood why he was denied so many of those rights for himself here at home. For him, it will never be the forgotten war for his friends died there and it is his hope that the history of it will continue to be taught.
Video Clips
Democracy for Them but Not for Me
John B. Jackson describes the irony of fighting in a war so that others could have a democracy that he himself did not enjoy. He explains the difficulty of coming back home to the same segregation that existed before he left, despite being a citizen of this country and fulfilling his call to duty.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVdOzGjjxR0&start=1330&end=1445
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https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/john-b-jackson#clip-1
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The Reality of Leaving My Country
John B. Jackson describes the moment he realized he was leaving American soil and would soon be on foreign soil. He recalls the emotional impact it had on him as his ship passed the Golden Gate Bridge. He remembers the learning experience of simply watching the sun rise and set over water, a sight he had never seen before.
Share YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVdOzGjjxR0&start=140&end=219
Share from this page:
https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/john-b-jackson#clip-2
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