From Farm Boy to Decorated WWII Soldier Yvonne Pipkin   © Copyright 2023 by Yvonne Pipkin

Cpl. Homer D. Jackson. Photo from by the author

I often wonder if soldiers are born brave or trained to be brave. I know we may not really know how we may react until we are faced with a situation. Making that split-second choice might be what makes the difference between life and death.

We frequently forget about the heroic men and women who have fought for freedom and who are still doing so unless we have a personal connection to them. I know of a young farm boy living in a small town in Wisconsin who enlisted in the army in February 1942 at the age of 20. I’m sure he was looking for adventure, and he certainly found it.

After completing training in Camp Campbell in Kentucky, Corporal Homer Jackson was assigned to the 2^nd Armored Division known as “Hell on Wheels”, an armored division of Sherman tanks under the direction of General Patton.

The 2^nd Armored Division became known as “Hell on Wheels”. Why? Patton declared the division would be "Hell on Wheels" when it encountered the enemy. The name stuck.

The division’s purpose was to provide infantry support, spearhead attacks and strengthen defensive positions.

General George S. Patton was the infamous leader of American forces during World War II, ruling with an iron fist. Patton was given the colorful nickname "Old Blood and Guts" due to his love for combat.

Before the initial landings on the Atlantic coast of Morocco, Patton gave his troops a statement that has become a part of military lore: "We shall attack and attack until we are exhausted, and then we shall attack again."

What was it like fighting from inside a Sherman Tank? At first, it might seem fun to be inside a small cabin feeling hidden from your enemy while rolling along on wheels and your mission is to take out enemy gun nests.

In actuality, the inside of the tank was a cramped space filled with smelly hot air. It was noisy. The tank crew did fear the constant danger they faced with a flammable engine, rows of ammunition, and having only 5 cm of steel to protect them from armor-piercing shells.

Even though the M4 Sherman was lightweight, fast, and mechanically reliable; it had a critical flaw. It was prone to catching fire when damaged.

First Tank Combat Mission: For his first mission, Cpl. Jackson was sent overseas to commence fighting in Africa at Casablanca, Morocco in June 1943. When Jackson arrived, the Germans had already surrendered in Tunisia on May 13, 1943.

It was hot in Africa and especially hot in the tanks. Sweat poured down the tank crew’s faces and their body odor permeated inside the tank day and night. After a while, the men became accustomed to the stench-filled air.

Fortunately, Hell on Wheels was reassigned a month later to battle in Sicily, Italy. The meandering roads on that mountainous island were extremely different from the level terrain of the North African plains. The tank unit made its way winding on the dirt paths.

The 2nd Armored successfully fought and swiftly defeated the German enemy in combat in Campobello, Palermo, and other strategic locations.

Preparing for the Normandy Invasion of France: The 2^nd Armored Division next traveled to England and Wales to prepare for the invasion of northern France to free Western Europe from German rule.

It was the beginning of June 1944 when the tankers entered Normandy and traveled across the European countryside, infiltrating France.

Tank Warfare and Cpl. Jackson’s Bravery: In June 1944 the tankers engaged in the battle against the German Panzers. Cpl. Jackson’s tank was damaged by an 88 mm shell fired during the invasion. The tank crew got out of their tank and instantly became prisoners by the German SS near Lafanns, France. The 48-man German SS platoon executed Jackson’s crew but spared Cpl. Jackson, the tank commander.

Cpl. Jackson was kept alive for questioning. Despite being severely beaten, Jackson managed to return to his unit nine hours later after grabbing a German machine pistol. He killed 24 Germans and brought back 24 German prisoners to the Allied lines. The Allies were not happy to see the German prisoners because it meant feeding and keeping a watchful eye on them.

Cpl. Jackson spent a brief amount of time in the hospital before leaving and continuing to battle with the 2^nd U.S. Armored Division in Belgium, Holland, and Germany.

2^nd Armored Division Assault on Germany: On April 22, 1945, Cpl. Jackson’s tank was directed to lead the assault on the well-fortified enemy position in Braunschweig (Brunswick), Germany.

The following was Pfc. Maurice Hauser’s account of Cpl Jackson’s major role in taking the city of Brunswick and breaking the enemy’s resistance which was published in The Democrat Tribune on May 29, 1945.

“It was near the city of Braunschweig which is on the American maps as Brunswick, where heavy resistance from the enemy was met. Young Jackson’s tank [unit] commander, Ellie B. Clark, knowing that this objective had to be taken at all costs and having confidence in young Cpl. Jackson, knowing his fine record with the spearheading company of the Division, told him to concentrate his fire on the left flank. Blocking the path were two enemy Mark 5 tanks. Young Cpl. Jackson, with his sharp eye and deadly shooting destroyed both enemy tanks with his cool and calm shooting and also got 2 enemy anti-tank guns which lay alongside the road.”

His tank was blown up shortly afterward, and only Cpl. Jackson managed to survive the explosion. Cpl. Jackson was seized as a prisoner once more and brutally assaulted.

Amazing Escape: The German guards in the town jail where prisoners were held believed their prisoner Jackson was too badly hurt and let their guard down. It was when a guard with jail keys stepped too close to the cell bars of the German prison staffed by SS soldiers that Cpl. Jackson reached through the bars, grabbed the guard, and strangled him. Cpl. Jackson took the keys and the guard’s weapon and liberated the other prisoners in the jail as well as killed the German guards in the jailhouse and led the freed prisoners back to the Allied lines.

Cpl. Jackson recuperated from his injuries in a hospital in England and was honorably discharged on November 26, 1945, after serving three years during World War II. His medals included: the Bronze Battle Star for his return with Germans as prisoners and the Purple Heart for his wounds in action in France.

On May 15, 1945, General I. D. White awarded the (second) Bronze Battle Star to Cpl. Jackson for his “extraordinary piece of the action in the taking of the city of Brunswick and the breaking of the armored resistance of the enemy”.

Lived Happily Ever After: Due to the severe nature of Cpl. Jackson’s injuries, the doctors believed he would only live five more years. He fooled the doctors and lived until he was 67 years old.

Why do I have a personal interest in Cpl. Jackson? He was my kind and soft-hearted dad.

I never really appreciated that my dad was a hero in WWII because he did not speak about his exploits to me while I was growing up. He was very protective of me and probably did not want me to know the gruesome details of his being captured.

I knew he had some medals, and that the Purple Heart is a high award given to an officer or enlisted person. The medal is given “for being wounded or killed by enemy action.” My mom was proud of my dad’s contribution and that he served under General Patton.

As a tribute to my dad, I contacted the Patton Museum in Chiriaco Summit, California, which honors the service and sacrifice of America’s veterans. The museum accepted my family documentation provided in 2017.