By Michael Butler

Longtime Tallasseean Harry Jackson was invited to New Orleans last week to be interviewed for the Gary Sinise Foundation’s Soaring Valor Program at the World War II Museum.

“I had VIP treatment. It went great,” said Jackson, who is now 99. “They almost made me famous.”

Jackson’s son Lee accompanied the Navy veteran on the trip to Louisiana.

“We walk in and a group of 12-14 people clapped,” Lee exclaimed.

This was Jackson’s third trip to the museum.

“It’s unbelievable what they have down there. It’s a tremendous place. The previous time, an army nurse was there. She and I took the spotlight. I had on my veteran’s cap. They made a lot over me everywhere I went.”

Jackson said he enjoyed the attention and the meals provided by the hosts.

“I got interviewed. It was supposed to last an hour and a half. We were supposed to see the movie, but I’d already seen that. So, the interview kept going for another hour and a half.”

Jackson was sworn into the service on his 18th birthday. In a 2020 interview on WTLS, he spoke about storming the beaches at Normandy.

“There were five beachheads. The Americans had two, the Omaha and Utah. The Omaha lost a lot of men. Our ship was the Utah. Utah was divided into two beaches, red beach and green beach. Our job was to steer and guide the landing ships that carried tanks. Unfortunately, the tank that was right in front of us hit a mine and blew up. We recovered eight soldiers, eight tankmen and one sailor from that disaster.”

Jackson got a brief respite following Normandy.

“We went back to England for some R&R (rest and recuperation). We reported back to Cherbourg, France.”

Jackson returned home from France but it did not end his wartime service.

“I had a 30-day leave. When I reported back supposedly to my ship, I found out it had not come home. It stayed over in Europe. I was transferred to another ship in Miami, Fla. After six months there, we got the word again go into dry dock and prepare for overseas service.

“They took off all the K guns and put 20 millimeter guns in every place they could find. The 20 millimeter is a rapidfire short-range gun that’s good for shooting down airplanes. We were on our way then to what would be the invasion of Japan. Our job when we got there was to get between the big ships and the shore and shoot down the kamikazes. Thank God we didn’t get that far.”

The tour of service did still go through Japan, China and Guam for Jackson.

“We were in Guam when my time was up. I had served my duration in six months. That’s what I signed up for.”

Those six months gave Jackson an new perspective on life.

“I became a man for sure, from an 18 year old to a veteran. I learned the value of life. Life is a precious thing. It can be taken away from you in a blink.”

The Baconton, Ga. native graduated from North Georgia College after his term in the service. After jobs at banks in Florida, Georgia and nearby Auburn, he moved to Tallassee in 1958 to assist in the startup of the People’s Bank of Carrville.

“That was quite an adventure to start a bank from scratch. Carrville was an incorporated town. It was a bustling little town at that time. We had two clothing stores, a drug store, two hardwares, a cafe. We had everything a little town needed.”

Jackson served as chairman of the board, chief executive officer and president at the bank prior to retirement.