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Personal info

Full name
JACKSON, Donald Dee
Date of birth
24 February 1922
Age
22
Place of birth
Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana
Hometown
Huntington County, Indiana

Military service

Service number
35345575
Rank
Technician Fifth Grade
Function
unknown
Unit
89th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron (Mechanized),
9th Armored Division
Awards
Bronze Star,
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Finding of Death
Date of death
17 December 1944
Place of death
In the vicinity of Mullerthal, Luxembourg

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Luxembourg
Plot Row Grave
E 7 53

Immediate family

Members
Charles L. Jackson (father)
Lela M. (Smuts) Jackson (mother)
Kenneth E. Jackson (brother)
Evalyn Jackson (sister)
Allen Jackson (brother)
Martha Ann (Meckstroth) Jackson (wife)
Phyllis J. Jackson (daughter)

More information

T/5 Donald D. Jackson enlisted in Toledo, Ohio on 27 October 1942. Injured in a ball game in May 1943 he did not rejoin his unit until February 1944 at Camp Polk, Louisiana after which he attended radio school at Fort Knox, Kentucky. A quiet man, Jackson was in all activities an outstanding soldier. Prevailed upon to remain in the states due to his weak ankle he waived his physical defect in order to remain with the troop when it left for Europe.

He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal posthumously for his heroic efforts to save an armored car from being captured by the enemy. Although enemy fire was falling heavily all about him, he moved forward toward the enemy to move the car.

He was last seen by his comrades when he was crawling toward the armored car.

Source of information: André Koch, Raf Dyckmans, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / Bly Family Tree / U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men 1940-1947 / Indiana Birth Certificates 1907-1940, www.findagrave.com, http://cgsc.contentdm.oclc.org - After Action Report 89th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron

Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Luxembourg American Cemetery, Kathy McDermott, Fort Wayne News Sentinel - 18 January 1945