MAJOR
DOUGLAS THOMAS JACOBSON, USMC (DECEASED) 

 

Medal of Honor Citation

Major Douglas Thomas Jacobson, who was presented the country's highest honor - the Medal of Honor - on 5 October 1945, by President Harry S. Truman, for heroism on Iwo Jima, died 20 August 2000 in Port Charlotte, Florida.

Born in Rochester, New York, on 25 November 1925, Capt Jacobson attended elementary and high school in Port Washington, New York. He worked for his father as a draftsman, and was a lifeguard and swimming instructor before enlisting in the Marine Corps Reserve on 28 January 1943, at the age of 17.

Following recruit training at Parris Island, South Carolina, he was transferred to the 23d Marine Regiment at Camp Lejeune, New River, North Carolina, and was promoted in July 1943, to private first class. As a member of the 3d Battalion, 23d Marines, 4th Marine Division, he was sent overseas in December 1943, and participated in the campaigns for Tinian, Marianas Islands, Marshall Islands, and Iwo Jima.

Promoted to corporal in April 1945, he returned to the United States that September, reporting to Headquarters Battalion, Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington, D.C., and was subsequently transferred to the Naval Shipyard, New York, New York, until discharged as a corporal in December 1945.

He then reenlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on 22 April 1946, and was retained at District Headquarters Recruiting Station, Washington, D.C., as a recruiting sergeant. Reappointed a line corporal in September 1946, he was ordered to a replacement battalion at Oceanside, California, embarking in November aboard the USS General William Mitchell as a replacement for the 1st Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force. He joined the 1st Engineer Battalion in December 1946, and served with the 1st Marine Division in Peiping and Tsingtao, China. He was promoted to sergeant in May 1947.

Returning from overseas in December 1948, he reported to the Marine Air Detachment, U.S. Naval Air Station, Columbus, Ohio, and was subsequently returned to the Naval Base, New York, New York, for discharge as a sergeant on 21 April 1949.

He later served 8 months in the Florida National Guard before being discharged to reenlist in the Marine Corps Reserve as a technical sergeant in September 1953 as a member of the 2d 155mm Gun Battalion, at Miami, Florida. Shortly thereafter, he was ordered to active duty to attend the 9th Officer Candidate Course, at Quantico, Virginia. Discharged from the Reserve in December 1953, he was immediately reappointed a technical sergeant in the regular Marine Corps, and subsequently commissioned a second lieutenant in March 1954, with date of rank from 5 June 1953.

Following graduation from the 1st Basic Course at Quantico in June 1954, he served briefly as a detachment officer until transferred to the 3d Marine Division, at Camp Pendleton. As a member of the 3d Marine Division, Lieutenant Jacobson left the United States in December 1954, arriving in Japan the next month. During this tour of duty he served as executive officer and later commanding officer of Company A, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 3d Marine Division, and was promoted to first lieutenant with date of rank from 5 December 1954.

Returning from overseas in June 1955, Lt Jacobson reported to the Marine Barracks, U.S. Naval Base, Brooklyn, New York, and served as a guard officer until July 1956, when he was transferred to the 2d Battalion, 2d Marines, 2d Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. At Camp Lejeune, he served as a company officer in Company D and later as commanding officer of Headquarters & Service Company.

In August 1957, he became a range officer at the Rifle Range Battalion, Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, and was promoted to captain in November.

In January 1958, he was reassigned to the General Supply Service Company, 2d Service Regiment, 2d Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, to attend Supply Officer Course #2-58. Upon completion of the school in April 1958, he was assigned duties as a supply officer with Sub Unit #1, Headquarters Company, Headquarters Battalion, Marine Corps Base, at Camp Lejeune.

In October 1958, he became officer in charge of Self-Service Center, Base Material Battalion, 2d Force Service Regiment at Camp Lejeune, and then served in various other supply duty capacities with the battalion until July 1960, when he was ordered to duty with the 3d Marine Division on Okinawa.

Captain Jacobson served as Regimental Supply Officer of the 3d Marine Regiment with the division until December 1960, when he returned to the Base Material Battalion, at Camp Lejeune. There, he served as assistant warehouse officer and officer in charge, Subsistence Branch and Storage Division until April 1962, when he was assigned as Commanding Officer, H&S Company, 2d Pioneer Battalion, 2d Marine Division, Camp Lejeune. He was promoted to major on 1 July 1964 and retired in 1967.

In addition to the Medal of Honor, Maj Jacobson's medals and decorations include: the Letter of Commendation, Presidential Unit Citation with two bronze stars, the Good Conduct Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with four bronze stars, the American Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the China Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal.

In addition, while a corporal during World War II, he was commended in division orders of the 4th Marine Division "…for excellent performance of duties as a Browning automatic rifleman while serving with a rifle company during action against enemy Japanese forces on Saipan, Marianas Island from 15 June to 28 June 1944…"

World War II Medal of Honor