Name/Title
Army Officer’s NotebookDescription
Claude F. Jackson, 79 year-old patriot who had served his country in one way or another virtually all of his life and whose family was among the earliest settlers in what is now Crawford County, died at midnight Tuesday at the Mt. Carmel Medical Center where he was admitted on Jan. 24. He had been in failing health for several years. He became well known in the area when almost immediately following his retirement he became active in civic affairs, serving enthusiastically and efficiently.
Jackson served on the Pittsburg City Commission for 10 years and served as mayor in 1966. For a full decade, Jackson County civil defense director. He served at a time when the need for preparedness against a possible emergency stressed.
Jackson was also active in efforts to get the new Mt. Carmel Medical Center built and had served as chairman of the Mt. Carmel Hospital council. In addition, Jackson served on the Pittsburg Planning and Zoning Commission and as chairman of the Zoning Board of Appeals.
Orphaned when he was eight years old, Jackson grew up on his aunt's cattle ranch near Waukomis, Okla. He worked as a cowboy on a large ranch near Rolls and he flew air mail as a pilot in the United States Army Air Force during the early days that ushered in the flying air service.
Jackson served 26 years in the military, winning three Bronze Stars for action in the Pacific during World War II and various other military awards. He also saw service in Panama and with the Border Patrol.
Patriotism was a part of the very fabric of Jackson's life. It was inbred in him as he struggled through his early years and through his military service. It remained with him through his years of retirement and the depth of that feeling was reflected in his daily life.
he was married on Dec. 3, 1934, to Margaret Ann McNeilly at LaGrange, Ind. Margaret was a local girl who was born at Fleming. She survives.
It was on Nov. 23, 1900, that Jackson was born on a farm west of Pittsburg in the Beulah area. He was orphaned in 1908 and became initiated to ranch life when he went to live in Oklahoma. Jackson went to western Kansas in 1914 and in 1919 he traveled to Arizona to work on the Gillespie dam out of Phoenix. Then for a short time he worked firing on the Moffatt railroad out of Denver. Jackson joined the United States Army Air Service in 1920. He eventually became part of the U.S. Army Air Force and then of the United States Air Force. He was serving in the Air Force at the time of his retirement.
Jackson had special training as an Air Force inspector, flight engineer and superintendent of air depot and had completed a number of courses in service schools. He also had special training in civil defense schools.
Jackson received a Bronze Star in 1945 for hand to hand combat on Iwo Jima. He received another that year for actions in the Mariannas and still another for action in the Marshall Islands.
Other awards Jackson earned include the U.S. Legion of Merit, Good Conduct Medal, Foreign Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Arial Gunner Award, Arial Engineer Award, World War II Victory Medal and Freedom Foundation Award, Valley Forge, Pa.
A religious person, Jackson's faith showed in his daily activity. He was Bible school teacher at the First Christian church for 10 years.
His masonic affiliations included: Pittsburg Blue Lodge No. 87, Royal Arch Chapter No. 58, Montjoie Commandery No. 29 of the Knights Templar, Scottish Rite at Fort Scott, Scottish Rite Club of Pittsburg, Independence Council No. 15, Rob Morris Chapter No. 74 of the Order of the Eastern Star, and Red Cross of Constantine.
Jackson was also a member of the Mizra Temple of the Shrine, the Benjamin Fuller Post No. 74 of the American Legion, the Pittsburg Kiwanis Club and the Air Force Association.
Jackson served as commander of the Knights Templar here and was in charge of the drill team that won state honors that year.
Survivors in addition to the wife include a twin brother, Clyde, who lives in Sheridan, Wyo., and a nephew, James Jackson, in Minnesota. Two brothers preceded him in death.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the McGavran Funeral Home with the Rev. Ting Champie of the First Christian Church officiating. Burial will be in Highland Park Cemetery.
There will be a full military funeral with personnel out of Whiteman Air Force base in charge. This will include the firing squad, buglers, colors and pallbearers.
The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the McGavran Chapel. Masonic services will be at 7:45 at the chapel. Honorary pallbearers and the honor guard will be members of the Montjoie Commandery No. 29.Create Date
September 8, 2022Update Date
September 8, 2022
