H. Nelson Jackson: A friend of President Theodore Roosevelt and often vacationed in his New York summer home. WWI was looming and Dr Jackson requested enterance into the Military. He was denied, at first due to his age. However, Roosevelt made it happen and Horatio Nelson Jackson became a Medical officer. At the time he organized The American Legion in the state of Vermont, he was in the early stages of convalescence from a gunshot wound in the right forearm that he sustained during the Meuse-Argone offensive Sept. 30, 1918. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross extraordinary heroism in action. September 26-29 at Montfaucon, France. He was also awarded the French Croix de Guerre with Palm and the French Legion of Honor (Chevalier).
His Commanding officer wrote: "Your service as a Medical officer could not have been surpassed,and your great assistance in, at all times going about over the field and encouraging the men to go forward under fire in order that we could keep up the drive to the front we had started to, and the example you set to your men by your absolute disregard of your personal safety was such as to be of great assistance to the whole regiment as an offensive unit. You had trained your Sanitary personnel of the regiment to such a state that they funtioned perfectly. They not only looked after the wounded of your own regiment but many of those from other regiments who came into your lines, Your medical officers became inspired by your example and they, too, did heroic work."
His first appointment as Colonel was on August 7,1923 when he transferred from the Medical Section, Offiers Reserve Corps (inactive) to the 388th Infantry, 97th Division, Officers Reserve Corps.
After a telegram from Theodore Roosevelt Jr. to attend the St Louis caucas of The American Legion he was the official organizer.
1922 He became American Legion Publishing Corporation Director .
Horation Nelson Jackson became National Vice Commander 1921-22. He was from Burlington, VT post #2. he had a unsurpassed record in Vermont participation in the national organization. Throughout many years he served as National Executive Committeeman. During the four years he was alternate he spent his time in Europe organizing FIDAC (the Inter-Allied Veterans Federation), and brought over delegates from 10 allied armies to the New Orleans convention.
Special Note: As a young man, H. Nelson Jackson was noted as the first man to travel, by automobile, from California to New York. This cross country excursion was documented in the Ken Burns documentary called "Horatio".
See photo section.
Known as "The father of Vermont American Legion"
