Karen, Joe Jackson, and "Doc" Graham
Gainesville residents "Doc" and Karen Graham are pictured with Joe Jackson, one of five living Air Force MOH Recipients.
A three-war veteran, Col. Jackson was 45 years old and a C-123 pilot when he made a decision that saved three lives and changed his.
Learning that a combat control team was surrounded at an airstrip on the verge of being overrun by the NVA, Jackson bashed his plane onto the runway at a speed well beyond what the designers had in mind.
The embattled soldiers sprinted to the plane as Jackson wheeled the craft around and then jammed the throttles to the firewall.
His is the only known Medal of Honor action to be photographed.
The Colonel also holds the Air Force Cross.
