JACKSON, Mervin - KIA - WWII
Source: Obituaries collected by and okayed I use for the GenWeb by Claudine Yerkes and Betty Dotson - two wonderful genealogists - these were cut out of various local newspapers - many from Crawfordsville, Kingman and Veedersburg
Tangier – Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Jackson have received official notification from the War Department that their eldest son, Pfc. Mervin Jackson, former Tangier basketball star, died March 24 of wounds received while fighting in Germany. Pfc. Jackson was inducted April __ 1943 and was sent overseas in November 1943 as a member of Company I, First Division of the First Army. He had received his basic training at Fort Riley, Kan. He was graduated in 1940 from Tangier HS where he was a star basketball player and member of the all-county basketball team for that year. Surviving in addition to the parents are two sisters, Miss Jackson, cadet nurse at Lake View Hospital, Danville Ill and Mrs. Billie Wilkey of Tangier. Also a brother Morris Jackson now in training at Fort Riley, Kan. - kbz
Source: Kingman Star Friday, April 30, 1948
It is the 11th month of 1922. Four years have wrought their healing touch on the memories of a World War and Armistice Day draws near. To Raymond and Sallie Harvey Jackson, the joy of the day has been enhanced a hundredfold for the 8th of the month gave them their first son and little Mearl a brother—Mervin.
What hopes and ambitions he roused and how fully they were gratified as the years slipped by, for he thrived and grew apace.
Eventually Marjory, then Morris, came to complete this household. Industrious and happy, working and playing together, the family filled a valued place in the community, school and church of Tangier.
Mervin was of strong physique, persistent and studious mind and exemplary habits. He enjoyed athletics and was a member of the 1940 basketball team of Tangier High School. He graduated from this school at the age of 18. He had worked with his father on the farm until the last two years of civilian life. He worked in Chicago in a Woolworth Store, becoming assistant manager. After Pearl Harbor, when our country called her sons to her defense, Mervin was one of the numbers. He was inducted into the army at Ft. Benjamin Harrison April 9, 1943. He received his basic training at F. Riley, Kansas, Camp Butner, N. C. and was at Camp Meade, Md., for a short time. On Oct. 27, 1943, he sailed for England. This same week the Army’s First Division, following its campaigns of Northern Africa and Sicily was sent to Scotland to be recruited and conditioned for D-Day.
Mervin became a recruit in Company I, 18th Infantry, 1st Division. From this time until the first week in June 1944, to receive assault tactics. To a student of intensive training in amphibious Army Archives who has followed the record of the 1st Division from its organization in 1776-78 down through every war, our country has ever fought, may come something of the picture of Mervin’s’ division. Seasoned veterans, inured to the hardest tests war can give.
On D-day, as in former actions, the 1st Division was out in front with the earliest to break through the murderous coastal defenses of Normandy. It was effective and successful in taking strategic points and German prisoners as it doggedly fought its way across France, Belgium, Holland and into Germany. For Mervin this horror ended on U. S. Hospital before the close of the day. A Belgian field he had fought to liberate, yielded another plot to be marked with its white cross, this one inscribed “Pfc. Mervin A. Jackson.
In the words of his Lieut. Colonel, John Williamson, Mervin “distinguished himself by cheerfulness and courage in all missions assigned to him, and under the most rigorous conditions of combat he rendered invaluable service to his regiment, his division and his country. The award of the Bronze Star Medal, which was made to him, reflects in only a small way the splendid record he achieved.”
We have no single unit of value by which to measure life, certainly not years, months and days. Mervin’s life span covered but 22 years, four months and 16 days, yet his lieutenant colonel tells us he rendered invaluable service; service to his organized March 24, 1945 near Uckerath, Germany. His company was placed in a defensive position in a newly won town. He was acting as squad leader when the enemy counter attacked and he was mortally wounded. He died in a U. S. Hospital before the close of the day. A Belgian field he had fought to liberate, yielded another plot to be marked with its white cross, this one inscribed “Pfc. Mervin A. Jackson. In the words of his Lieut. Colonel, John Williamson, Mervin “distinguished himself by cheerfulness and courage in all missions assigned to him, and under the most rigorous conditions of combat he rendered invaluable service to his regiment, his division and his country. The award of the Bronze Star Medal, which was made to him, reflects in only a small way the splendid record he achieved.”
We have no single unit of value by which to measure life, certainly not years, months and days. Mervin’s life span covered but 22 years, four months and 16 days, yet his lieutenant colonel tells us he rendered invaluable service; service to his organized comrades, his country, and we think, to the world. We would have the family to feel and realize the deep sympathy of a grateful people, and know how fully it honors Mervin and the record he achieved.
Source: Kingman Star Friday, April 9, 1948
Veedersburg—The remains of Wayne Marsh, veteran of World War II, who lost his life in England, will be returned to Veedersburg for burial. The date of arrival is not known. His parents are Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Marsh.
The body of Forrest Babb, also a World War II veteran and a native of Fountain County, will be returned for burial. He lost his life in the Normandy invasion. Mr. and Mrs. Winfield Babb, now of Rockford, Ill., are the youth’s parents. The date of arrival is not known.
The casketed remains of Staff Sergeant Mervin A. Jackson, a World War II deceased member of the United States Army from Kingman, Indiana, being returned from overseas for final burial, will arrive in Kingman, Indiana in the next few days accompanied by a uniformed Army Escort from the Chicago Distribution Center of the American Graves Registration Division.
The body of Staff Sergeant Mervin A. Jackson, who served overseas, was interred in the Henri-Chapelle temporary military cemetery in Belgium, but has been returned to this country for final interment at the request of his next of kin, Mr. and Mrs. Jesse R. Jackson, Route 2, Kingman, Ind.
A nation wide poll of representative group of the 300,000 Gold Star families who lost members overseas during World War II indicated that 70 percent desired to have their deceased warriors brought back to their homeland for final interment. Thus over 6,700 of Indiana’s fallen dead will be returned through the Chicago Distribution Center the next two years from their temporary resting places now scattered throughout the world. - thanks to S
Source: Kingman Star Friday, April 23, 1948
Funeral services for S/Sgt. Mervin A. Jackson, killed in Germany, were held at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Tangier Friends Church.
The Rev. John M. Rutherford, Kokomo, Ind., officiated. The body was at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Jackson, prior to services. The Spencer Funeral Home, Kingman, was in charge of burial and Legion Post 384, Kingman, conducted military rites at Rush Creek Cemetery.
Sergeant Jackson was a graduate of Tangier High School, where he was a star basketball player and member of the All-County team in 1940. He was inducted April 9, 1943 and was sent overseas in November of the same year as a member of Co. 1, 1st Division of the 1st Army.
He died March 24, 1945 of wounds received while fighting in Germany. His body was returned on the transport Robert F. Burns from the U. S. Military Cemetery Henri-Chapelle, Belgium.
Surviving besides his parents are two sisters, Miss Marjorie Jackson, Lake View Hospital, Danville, and Mrs. William Wilkey, Tangier, and a brother, Morris Jackson, Tangier, World War 2 veteran.
