Man killed in Vietnam War finally honored
Phyllis Jackson receives the American flag from her nephew Howard Jackson Jr., Chief Warrant Officer of the Honor Guard, during a ceremony to pay full military honors to Mrs. Jackson's son, Vietnam veteran Thomas Peter Jackson Jr., who was killed while in action in 1969. (June 4, 2011) Credit: Newsday/Alejandra Villa
More than 42 years after he was killed in the Vietnam War, Thomas Peter Jackson Jr.'s service was formally recognized Saturday.
About 20 family members and friends gathered at the Veterans Memorial in Nassau County's Eisenhower Park for a full military honors ceremony, including a gun salute, playing of "Taps" and presentation of a folded flag to Jackson's 87-year-old mother.
Jackson, of Westbury, was a private in the Army's 101st Airborne Division when he was killed in combat on May 21, 1969. His body was recovered by an uncle, also serving in Vietnam, and he was buried in Westbury's Cemetery of the Holy Rood.
The funeral, though, didn't include traditional military honors, in part because of the numerous casualties and a shortage of honor guards at the time, according to his mother, Phyllis.
She said Saturday she was happy her firstborn was "finally" being recognized. His death was so upsetting she still can't visit his grave, about a mile from the East Meadow park. She now lives in Colorado.
"He didn't want to go to Vietnam, but he did his duty," Phyllis Jackson said. "And like so many others, he was killed."
Jackson was 23 when he died. He had been in Vietnam for 45 days.
His mother said he was killed while laying down covering fire so other infantrymen in his group could escape. He was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
A brother, Joseph, recalled Saturday how Thomas Jr. was fascinated by cars, particularly a 1950s-era blue Thunderbird that he fixed up.
"He was a tinkerer," said Joseph, 64, who also served in the Army but wasn't sent to Vietnam.
Before being drafted in 1968, Thomas Jr. studied at Nassau Community College and received a bachelor's degree in economics from the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University.
He was one of seven children born to Phyllis and the late Thomas Jackson Sr., who lived in Westbury until 1972.
Thomas Jr. was a standout pitcher in Little League, according to his godfather, Howard F. Jackson Sr., a World War II veteran from Shelter Island.
The ceremony idea came from a cousin from Garden City, Howard F. Jackson Jr., chief warrant officer for the 11th New York Regiment of the United States Volunteers, a military group authorized to perform honors ceremonies. He suggested to his aunt last year that Thomas Jr. receive full honors.
"It's about time," Phyllis Jackson said Saturday. "I'm glad we are doing this."
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