Bryan Jackson

Bryan H. Jackson, formerly of LaFayette, Ga., went home to be with his savior on May 23, 2015. He was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Pearl Neely Jackson; a brother, Walter Earl Jackson; a sister, Velula Jackson Gentry; and nephew, Mikey Day. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Delores "Dee" Jackson of Tunnel Hill; sons, Bryan H. Jackson Jr. and wife Letrice of Chickamauga, Ga; Len Jackson and wife Tara of Tunnel Hill; David Bryan Jackson and wife Susan of Cohutta, Ga.; sisters, Delores Grigsby, LaFayette, Ga., Bobbie Day of Trion Ga; brother, Billy Jackson and wife Waydean of LaFayette; six grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews. Bryan joined the Army after graduating from LaFayette High School in 1948. He received Basic Training at Fort Jackson, S.C. Was assigned to Augsburg, Germany, as a clerk until June, 1949, when he was transferred to Fort Lee, Va., to attend Clerical School. He was then assigned to Edgewood (Md.) Army Chemical Center. He served in the Korean War in 1950, where he was attached to the 7th Division and was part of the invasion at Inchon. He was wounded at Wonju, Korea, on Feb. 10, 1951. He served in the 3rd Infantry Regiment, known as the Old Guard, where he supervised the Honor Guard at Arlington National Cemetery and the White House until 1953. At that time he was assigned to Fort Jackson, S.C., As 1st/ Sgt of a Basic Training company. He was then reassigned to Fort McPherson, Ga., as an Investigator for the 9lst MP Co (CI ) for four years. He was assigned briefly to Verdun, France, in 1957. He taught ROTC at UT-Knoxville for four years where he helped start the Ranger Training Program there. In 1964, he was assigned to Fort Wainwright Alaska as S-1 Senior NCO for 18 months. In 1965, he was transferred to Fort Campbell, Ky., as Personnel Sgt. For 27th Engr. Battalion. In July 1966 he was commissioned as a Warrant Officer Junior Grade and married his wife, Dee. He was transferred to Fort Stewart, Ga., where he served as personnel officer for the 34th Engr. Battalion and shipped out with them to Bien Hoe, Vietnam, in April 1967. In September, 1967, he was transferred to 20th Engr. Brigade Headquarters as Personnel Officer. He returned to Ft. Campbell in April, 1968 where he retired in August, 1968. While in the military he was awarded a CIB Badge, Purple Heart, Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf cluster, Airborne Parachute Badge, and a number of service ribbons for assignments in Germany, Japan, Korea and Vietnam. After retirement, he returned to LaFayette, where he operated several businesses during the next 25 years. While living there he organized numerous military parades, dedicated highways to MIA/POWs, and Medal of Honor recipients all over Tennessee and Georgia. He was Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Medal of Honor Museum of Military History for five years. He was elected to the LaFayette City Council where he served for 19-plus years. He came out of retirement in 1996 to help organize the JROTC unit at LaFayette High School. He worked there as Military Property Officer, advisor to the Color Guard and was in charge of the burial detail of Veterans funerals for North Georgia. During the last 45 years he has remained a proud veteran and participated in many patriotic endeavors. In 2003 he and Dee moved to Tunnel Hill, Ga., to be near their grandchildren. He was a loyal member of Varnell United Methodist Church in Varnell, Ga. The family will receive friends on Wednesday from 5-9 p.m. at Julian Peeples Funeral Home, Cleveland Highway, Pleasant Grove Chapel, in Dalton. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to the National Medal of Honor Museum, Chattanooga, or 34th Engr. Batt. c/o Brian Hamor, 7 High St, Bar Harbor, ME 04609. Funeral services will be held at Varnell United Methodist Church at 11 a.m. on Thursday with the Rev. Stephen Street and Rev. Tony Jackson officiating. Interment will follow in the National Cemetery in Chattanooga, Tenn. Arrangements by Julian Peeples Funeral Home, 2801 Cleveland Hwy, Dalton, Ga.