In Memory of My Father-A Son's Tribute

"In Memory of My Father"

Capt. Carl E. Jackson, U.S.A.F.
A Son's Tribute

January 28, 1930<>MIA June 27, 1965 1St Flight Detachment, 1131st Special Activities Squadron, MACV-SOG, 12th det.
This is our favorite photo of our dad. The white scarf he's wearing, I took when I made my first solo flight on March 19, 2005

First Flight Detachment Members A Gathering of Special Eagles

On October 11, 2007 I was invited to attend the "first" gathering of 1ST Flight Reunion. It was a long awaited reunion for these guys! Left picture are the following: Front Row: Don M, Me, Bob C, Fred M, "Dusty" R, Ed C, Jim O. Back Row: Roger, Russ M, Abby D, Gary B, Roger M, Richard M, Fred H, Jim B, Frank W., The photo on the right is a group photo of the men with their wives!

During the reunion this year, I talked to one of the guys and his statement to me was that Nha Trang was about to come under rocket and motar attack. My dad boarded his airplane and two planes took off for Ton Son Nhut air base. My dad flew a more direct flight over the mountain and the other flight flew down south along the Vietnam boarder. As they approached the air base, the tower cleared the other aircraft and my father radioed that he would land first that he was lower. Emeny ground fire then took aim and brought my dad's aricraft down. The other pilot saw the plane get hit and crash and said that there was no way anyone could have survived that crash.

This is a photo of the early C-123's at Nha Trang. Note the gray paint job. Thus the reason they were called "Grayghost" missions. Photo is courtesy of John Walt.

The following is a poem that my sister Sherrie wrote,
one year, shortly after his disappearance.
She was only 8 when our father was shot down over Vietnam

"It was one lonely year at Christmas time
When all the bells would chime.
He was flying a plane up in the sky
Because he wasn't afraid to fight or die.
There were traces of blood but no bodies found
This was after the plane hit the ground.
They knew this was the plane my Dad was on
But nothing could be done for he was already gone.
They sent a letter and we all started to cry
But we were proud of the man who wasn't afraid to fight or die."
Author: Sherrie Jackson
mid 1960's

These bracelets are located at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.
The third row, 11th from the top is my father's.

The man on the far left looking down, is my father exiting a building in Vietnam. This photo was given to me two years ago. Taken between May and June of 1965. This time look to the far right where you see only half a figure. The other photo of my father.

This is one of the few pictures taken with my father and I together.

My email address
alan@miacarljackson.com

Several years ago a reel-to-reel tape, that my Father made while still at Chanute AFB, surfaced and I had it transferred to cassette. The excerpt you are about to hear was part of a 'recorded letter' to his parents. Listen to this first, by clicking on Carl's picture below, then read the following letter that he wrote home to my Mother.
It's only a few seconds long and you may have to turn off the background music
first in order to hear it properly.

This is an excerpt of one of my Father's letters home to my Mother.
It was written on June 19, 1965. This statement is what helps me deal with all that we've gone through over the years.
"I work every Sunday and can't attend church.
Our work is helping to
guarantee freedom to exist and worship as man
desires, so we all will
occasionally make a few concessions or sacrifices.
And it sometimes makes
you feel that your sacrifice is worthwhile when
a store owner or restaurant
owner tells you that he would have no business
if it weren't for the US
military keeping the VC in the hills. It is a hard
task and it sometimes looks
futile, but it must be done. Communism can't
be allowed to envelop the
globe. And so much hinges upon our
success or failure in SE Asia."

As my father was, I strive to be!

This section is dedicated to my father. His love for flying inspired me to try and follow his footsteps, in a way. It has always been my dream and wish to fly an airplane as he did. On November 10, 2000 I made my very first flight into the BLUE SKIES! Below is a picture of my father on the left and, me on the right taken on the solo flight I made on March 19, 2005!

THANKS DAD!!!

This is a picture of "Jackson Hall".

Carl was the first casualty in Vietnam from
"Chanute Air Force Base."
This is the building he did his teaching in
and was dedicated in his name on
5-18-68.

This is me just inside the door of
"Jackson Hall".

This is a picture of the plaque bearing
his name and the dedication information.

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POW/MIA Links To Visit, Seriously!
Firebase Freedom Home Page

Operation: Just Cause
National League of Families of POW/MIA's Of Southeast Asia
Jon-An's POW/MIA Site
Jon-An's POW/MIA Site To My Father
September 11, 2001
Viper's Vietnam Veteran Site-A Vietnam Veteran

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