What:  Nov Luncheon.  Joint w/ Atlanta Kiwanis Club. 
When:  1130, 9 Nov 2004
Where:  Loudermilk Ctr in downtown Atlanta
Speaker:  COL(R) Jack Jacobs, Medal of Honor winner
Cost:  $11.00 at the door
RSVP:  RSVP date is Thursday, 4 Nov 04, 1200.   Call Jan Heath or voice mail 404-881-8081. A Reservation made is a reservation paid!

** NOTE DIFFERENT DATE **

Col (Ret) US Army Jack Jacobs, holder of Medal of Honor, will speak.  Col Jacobs also wrote a book on Medal of Honor winners.  (If you want an autographed cy of his book, I'm sure he'll have some available.)  Yes, he spoke at an Academy Connect affair last spring.  Irv Schoenberg was so impressed w/ Jack's presentation he convinced Kiwanis that they should host him.  All who heard him raved about it, so you have a second chance to hear this outstanding American.  (See MoH citation below for details.)  This one is cheaper - only $11.00, payable at the door to Kiwanis Club.  Parking costs $2.00, but if you take your ticket into the luncheon, they validate it!  RSVP date is Thursday, 4 Nov 04, 1200.   Call Jan Heath or voice mail 404-881-8081. A Reservation made is a reservation paid!

Directions:

From the North.  Southbound on I75/85, take exit 249A, Courtland Street Go through five intersections (Baker, Harris, International, Ellis, Dobbs) At the sixth intersection, turn right onto Auburn The garage entrance is on the left in the middle of the block.

From the South.  Northbound on I75/85, take exit 248B, Edgewood Avenue Go straight across Edgewood.  At the next intersection, turn left onto Auburn Avenue Go through four intersections (Bell, Butler, Piedmont, Courtland) After crossing Courtland, the garage entrance is on the left  in the middle of the block

CITATION:  (Note:  This citation is pretty sterile.  This action took place roughly one month after the horror & confusion of the 29 Jan 1968 Tet Offensive.  The VC were now overtly joined by NVA regulars, and were so confident of victory that they were standing and fighting in Bn strength units.  Everyone took a beating during Tet.  The ARVN especially.  For a MoH citation, this reads sorta "Ho Hum."  I assure you, it was NOT a ho Hum action.  The ferocity and tempo of these battles & skirmishes, while we collectively wrested control of the countryside back from the enemy, are hard to describe.  For roughly a month, we owned only the ground we sat on and a few hundred meters beyond.  The ARVN was slowly being developed into an effective force that could stand on its own, courtesy of a "Vietnamization/Modernization" program being conducted by GEN Abrams.  The Tet offensive came at a very inopportune time for them.  Zoom in to 1/Lt Jack Jacobs and an ARVN infantry company in the battle of their lives. (DRR '59))

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Capt. Jacobs (then 1st Lt.), Infantry, distinguished himself while serving as assistant battalion advisor, 2d Battalion, 16th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division, Army of the Republic of Vietnam. The 2d Battalion was advancing to contact when it came under intense heavy machinegun and mortar fire from a Viet Cong battalion positioned in well fortified bunkers. As the 2d Battalion deployed into attack formation its advance was halted by devastating fire. Capt. Jacobs, with the command element of the lead company, called for and directed air strikes on the enemy positions to facilitate a renewed attack. Due to the intensity of the enemy fire and heavy casualties to the command group, including the company commander, the attack stopped and the friendly troops became disorganized. Although wounded by mortar fragments, Capt. Jacobs assumed command of the allied company, ordered a withdrawal from the exposed position and established a defensive perimeter. Despite profuse bleeding from head wounds which impaired his vision, Capt. Jacobs, with complete disregard for his safety, returned under intense fire to evacuate a seriously wounded advisor to the safety of a wooded area where he administered lifesaving first aid. He then returned through heavy automatic weapons fire to evacuate the wounded company commander. Capt. Jacobs made repeated trips across the fire-swept open rice paddies evacuating wounded and their weapons. On 3 separate occasions, Capt. Jacobs contacted and drove off Viet Cong squads who were searching for allied wounded and weapons, single-handedly killing 3 and wounding several others. His gallant actions and extraordinary heroism saved the lives of 1 U.S. advisor and 13 allied soldiers. Through his effort the allied company was restored to an effective fighting unit and prevented defeat of the friendly forces by a strong and determined enemy. Capt. Jacobs, by his gallantry and bravery in action in the highest traditions of the military service, has reflected great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.