U.S. Army Sgt. Stewart Jackson of Hollis will represent New Hampshire at a national tribute sponsored by the Purple Heart Patriot Project. Courtesy photo

HOLLIS – U.S. Army Sgt. Stewart Jackson of Hollis was recently chosen to be one of the nation’s Purple Heart Patriot Project honorees this year.

He will represent his fellow Purple Heart heroes as New Hampshire’s representative at the multi-day tribute to the courage and sacrifice of America’s combat wounded. The Purple Heart Patriot Project is a program of the National Purple Heart Honor Mission.

Selected from among hundreds of nominees and deserving candidates for their courage and service, both in combat and in their communities, this annual all-expense paid ‘Honor Flight’-style salute will bring together Purple Heart recipients from across conflicts and generations. The multi-day Patriot Project Mission, scheduled for April 27 to May 1, will feature visits to historic sites, including the U.S. Military Academy at West Point; a private tour of the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor and the 9/11 Memorial.

“Stew and his fellow Patriot Project honorees represent the best of the best our country has to offer,” said Jeremy McVey, chairman of the National Purple Heart Honor Mission. “These honorees represent a true cross-section of America and the diversity of our combat wounded through the decades. They answered the nation’s call and then kept on serving. This is our opportunity to say ‘thank you’ on behalf of a grateful nation, especially for our Vietnam veterans, the Patriot Project provides proper homecoming they never received.”

“These Patriot Project missions recognize the sacrifices made by our Purple Heart recipients and honor those who never made it home. They provide an invaluable opportunity for these heroes to bond with other combat wounded to help with healing, understanding and of course, know that this nation will never forget their sacrifice,” said retired Col. Russell Vernon, executive director of the National Purple Heart Honor Mission. “We received hundreds of nominations from across the country and we look forward to honoring Stew for his courage and service, both during combat operations and in the years since returning home.”

This year’s Patriot Project honorees include men and women from all branches of military service, who sacrificed for America and then went on to be leaders in their communities and professions.

“Though I didn’t volunteer to serve, I’m proud to have served my country in a time of war,” said Jackson. “I learned a great deal about leadership that served me well later in my civilian life. I also made friendships among my fellow platoon members, which have lasted to this day.”

Jackson was drafted into the Army in January 1968 and served for the next twenty months. He was deployed to Vietnam with the Ninth Infantry Division. On Feb. 28, 1969, Jackson’s platoon was split in half and set up ambush positions on either side of a thickly wooded jungle area where it was suspected there was Viet Cong activity. After an uneventful night, Jackson’s half of the platoon was ordered to join up with the rest of the platoon by traversing dense vegetation via a path with a branch across the opening. From previous experience, the platoon strongly suspected that the branch was booby trapped. After closely inspecting the branch, Jackson instructed the squad member who carried a grenade launcher to fire a round at the branch, but he overshot the branch. The squad then fired several M16 rounds at the branch before Jackson gave the point man the order to proceed with caution. The booby trap exploded immediately, badly injuring his point man and hitting Jackson with two pieces of shrapnel in the abdomen. Several other soldiers received minor leg wounds. The squad called a medivac helicopter for the point man. By that time, Jackson realized that his injuries were more serious than he first thought, so he was put on the chopper with the point man and flown back to their basecamp, Dong Tam.

Along with his Purple Heart, Jackson was awarded numerous medals and commendations during his service, including the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Ribbon, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Army Commendation Medal with “V” device and more.

Married and the proud father of one and grandfather of two as well as two stepdaughters and two step-granddaughters, Jackson enjoys amateur radio, furniture making, carpentry, traveling to National Parks, and auto repair. He continues to serve his fellow veterans as a life member of the Disabled American Veterans, the Patriot Guard Riders, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Military Order of the Purple Heart. He often serves as a bugler for local events, holiday parades and funerals.