My Uncle's US Navy career history.

[navychief 1]

I thought perhaps you all might be interested in reading this. My Uncle Bob Jackson was my hero. His service to the US Navy was distinguished.

 

Jackson, Robert O.

 

 

Capt. Robert O. Jackson 86, passed away December 24, 2004. Born in Indianapolis August 19, 1918, Capt. Jackson was an alumnus of Shortridge High School, attended Purdue University, was a member of that school's chapter of Phi Delta Theta fraternity, and a decorated wartime veteran of the United States Navy. With U.S. involvement in the war in Europe at hand, he left Purdue in 1940 to enlist in the Navy, attending midshipman school at Abbott Hall at Northwestern University. As an honor graduate, he assisted in training the next incoming class. His first tour of sea duty, in the North Atlantic, followed. After the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, his destroyer, the USS Mustin, was dispatched to the South Pacific for combat duty. In 1943, he returned to the United States to join the crew of the newly commissioned destroyer USS Sigourney, and returned to the South Pacific theater aboard that ship as a deck officer, seeing more combat action. After hostilities ended, he traveled the oceans around the world to New York City for release from active duty in 1945. Following World War II, Capt. Jackson joined his father's business, Jackson Engineering Co., and later formed his own firm, Jackson Equipment Co. He remained active in the Naval Reserve and was recalled to sea duty from 1951 to 1953 during the Korean conflict, serving aboard the destroyer USS Hunt. During this time, he attained the rank of commander. In his military career, Capt. Jackson earned numerous campaign honors, including the AsiaticPacific with nine battle stars. After Korea, Capt. Jackson returned to his business, while continuing his service to the Navy. At the Naval Armory in Indianapolis, he stayed on active reserve, training recruits and providing other leadership. In 1962, at the request of then-Gov. Matthew E. Welsh, he traveled to Seattle for the decommissioning of the battleship USS Indiana and oversaw the return of key memorabilia to the state, including the ship's wheel and bell. Capt. Jackson, who attained that rank while in the Naval Reserve, was a co-founder of The Army-Navy Service Club. He served as president of the Navy League, the Heslar Naval Armory Board. He was appointed to serve on the State Armory Board by five consecutive governors; a plaque bearing Capt. Jackson's name was mounted at the Heslar Naval Armory in appreciation of this service. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal of Indiana, honored as a Sagamore of the Wabash and in 1998 was named President Emeritus of the Heslar Naval Armory Board. He was also made an honorary member of the U.S. Submarine Fleet, 500 Chapter.

 

He will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery on Feb. 18th.

 

Navy Chief