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Medal of Honor recipient Jack Jacobs discusses the Vietnam War and his US Army career
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Interview Timeline
Colonel Jack Jacobs (US Army, Retired) retired from the Army as a full Colonel in 1987. He is a widely regarded military analyst and serves on a number of charitable boards of directors. He served in Vietnam and was awarded a Medal of Honor for an action in his first of two combat tours. We spoke about the Vietnam War, the medal, and the US Army. If Not Now, When?: Duty and Sacrifice in America’s Time of Need (Berkley Hardcover, 2008)
0:40 – Jack talks about why he joined the US Army.
2:33 – Jack talks about being an 11B and joining the Airborne.
3:20 – Jack talks about going to Vietnam.
4:52 – Jack talks about when and where he served in September.
6:45 – Jack talks about how they’d deploy as advisors.
8:03 – Jack talks about living with the Vietnamese troops.
8:54 – Jack talks about the strengths and weaknesses of the Vietnamese forces.
13:43 – Jack talks about Vietnamese units.
15:29 – Jack talks about being in the front lines.
17:36 – Jack talks about the event that led to the award of the Medal of Honor.
22:13 – Jack talks about the possible spies among friendly forces.
23:02 – Jack talks about support for the unit.
24:21 – Jack talks about Navy gunships supporting his unit.
25:15 – Jack talks about the ambush where he was wounded.
27:03 – Jack provides details about the ambush.
28:32 – Jack talks about what he thought when the ambush occurred.
30:31 – Jack talks about emotions in combat.
32:03 – Jack talks about the length of the engagement and his wound.
33:20 – Jack talks about medical care on the battlefield.
34:43 – Jack talks about operating while wounded.
36:04 – Jack details how he learned about his Medal of Honor.
38:04 – Jack talks about his emotions about the medal.
40:15 – Jack talks about the paperwork for his medal.
40:46 – Jack talks about awards for other members and how some have been denied.
43:05 – Jack talks about integration in the military.
43:22 – Jack talks about fighting to go back to Vietnam.
46:37 – Jack talks about his second tour and some of the battles.
47:38 – Jack talks about differences in the Vietnamese military between his first and second tours.
50:08 – Jack talks about US strategy in his second tour.
51:00 – Jack talks about his return from his second tour.
51:49 – Jack talks about his post-Vietnam military career.
52:55 – Jack talks about young cadets succeeding later in life.
54:48 – Jack talks about West Point.
56:56 – Jack talks about the US Army post-Vietnam.
59:48 – Jack talks about the Soviets in Afghanistan and China.
1:02:25 – Jack talks about meeting other Medal of Honor recipients.
1:03:54 – Jack talks about his discomfort with being a Medal of Honor recipient because of those who didn’t get one or survive.
1:05:18 – Jack talks about the books he wrote.
1:06:23 – Jack talks about a series titled “Ten Weeks” on basic training that will be coming out on Hulu.
1:08:28 – Details on the book can be found on Amazon.
1:11:59 – Jack talks about young people and military service.
Links of interest
https://amzn.to/3d8G4Y1
https://amzn.to/3j4Fu1v
Contact Information
For more “Military History Inside Out” please follow me at www.warscholar.org, on Facebook at warscholar, on twitter at Warscholar, on youtube at warscholar1945 and on Instagram @crisalvarezswarscholar. Or subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify Please see historyrabbithole.com for a list of my dozen or so blogs and podcasts. You’re sure to find something you like.
Guests: Jack Jacobs
Host: Cris Alvarez
Tags: Books, audio interviews, author, podcast, Berkley Hardcover, American history, Modern War, United States, Vietnam, Vietnam War,
Check out this book here https://amzn.to/3d8G4Y1
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