He kept running into the fire until the men who reached him believed he was dead.
On March 16, 1967, the 20 year old corpsman with Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines ran the fire swept trail on Hill 861 again and again to reach wounded Marines. He was hit more than a dozen times. The man who found him believed he was dead, and he was loaded onto the helicopter with the fallen, but he was still alive. He came home with a Purple Heart, and his family is asking the Navy to review his actions for the Navy Cross.
Endorsed by the Plymouth Legislative DelegationSenator Fernandes, Representative LaNatra, Representative Badger“Hit more than a dozen times as he raced up and down the fire-swept trail to pull casualties to safety, the “doc” had finally been felled when a slug ripped into his right hip, destroying it.”Edward F. Murphy, The Hill Fights (2003), page 44
The record, in the Navy's own words
Wounded in action on Hill 861, March 16, 1967. Awarded the Purple Heart. Medically retired. In 2026 the Navy reviewed his complete file: Purple Heart confirmed, no valor award ever recorded.
The Navy's official casualty report, filed the day after Hill 861: wounded in action, 16 March 1967, Operation Chinook II.
From the Commanding General, 3d Marine Division, for wounds received in combat on 16 March 1967.
Hospital Corpsman HM3, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division. Date of rank: 16 March 1967.
Navy Personnel Command reviewed his complete file: Purple Heart confirmed. No valor award on record.
Everything about Doc Jake, one tap away.
A grateful nation honors the memory of Russell Harold Jacobson Jr.
Were you on Hill 861?
If you served with Doc Jake, or have anything to share about March 1967, I'd love to hear from you. Every memory helps, even a small one.
His story also started the Fire Swept Trail, where families keep the stories of the Vietnam veterans they love.