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Medal of Honor recipient Jack Jacobs discusses the Vietnam War and his US Army career
Check out this book here https://amzn.to/3d8G4Y1
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
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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