Lieutenant Colonel Joe. M. Jackson was born March 14,1923 in Newnan, Georgia. He served as a career officer in the United States Air Force. Joe was awarded the Medal of Honor during the Vietnam War for a dangerous but very important rescue operation of 3 American military officers.

Once Jackson completed a staff tour in Europe, he was assigned to fly the C-123 Provider over South Vietnam while the Vietnam War was taking place. While he also flew 298 combat missions during this period, it was his most risky rescue mission on May 12, 1968 near Kham Duc this fearful act earned him the nation's highest award for military stands.

On January 16, 1969, President Lyndon B. Johnson presented Joe M. Jackson with the Medal of Honor at a White House ceremony. The other Medal of Honor that day was given to Newnan native Stephen W. Pless, a Marine Aviator who, like Jackson, had earned the decoration for a very dangerous and risky airborne rescue. It was also amazing that both Pless and Jackson were from the same little town of Georgia town, President Johnson quoted "There must be something in the water down in Newnan."

Lieutenant Colonel Joe. M. Jackson still had a few more years to continue serving on the active duty in the Air Force. He served at the Pentagon and as a faculty member of the Air War College. After 33 years of active duty service on the military Jackson retired. He currently resides in the state of Washington, at the age of 85 years old.