07-01301110
-----Original Message-----
From: RobbHoover@aol.com [mailto:RobbHoover@aol.com]
Sent: Tuesday, January 30, 2007 11:10 AM
To: dgrif@citlink.net
Cc: JThomas927@aol.com; thegunfighter@cox.net; jimmaloneys@yahoo.com; RobbHoover@aol.com; MaxMoore55@aol.com
Subject: Dinner with Joe Jackson, Medal of Honor Recipient, Jan 29, 2007
Grif,
The SRW Association was privileged to have four members attend dinner with LtCol Joe Jackson, USAF, Retired, recipient of the Medal of Honor for his valorous actions at Kham Duc, May 12, 1968.
55th Commander Brigadier General Jonathan George had invited Joe Jackson to Offutt AFB as a way of helping today's force understand the heritage of the Air Force. Joe spoke to several gatherings on base and then enjoyed dinner at the Offutt Patriot Club.
Jim Maloney was able to relay the thanks of his high school classmate who was one of the three persons that Joe Jackson rescued at Kham Duc in his C-123. Joe also told us some stories about his early days in the U-2 program in the 1950s and the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. When you see Jim Maloney at the next Reunion ask him what the first words his rescued classmate said to Joe as they escaped from the hail of heavy groundfire that day into the wild blue yonder. And Joe confirmed the accuracy of that story.
From left to right, Reg Urschler, Robb Hoover, Joe Jackson, Jim Maloney, Jim Thomas.
