'If Not Now, When?'

Tuxedo Park Library to host Medal of Honor recipient, Col. Jack H. Jacobs, on Nov. 17

Published Nov 5, 2013 at 3:05 pm (Updated Nov 5, 2013)

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Col. Jack H. Jacobs, who received the Medal of Honor for his service in Vietnam, will speak about his memoir, "If Not Now, When? Duty and Sacrifice in America's Time of Need,"on Sunday, Nov. 17, at the Tuxedo Park Library. He is pictured here speaking to crew members during a visit to the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt in December 2005. (U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Stephen Early.)

TUXEDO PARK — The Authors' Circle at the Tuxedo Park Library will present Medal of Honor recipient, Col. Jack H. Jacobs, on Sunday, Nov. 17 ,at 3 p.m.

Jacobs, who was born in Brooklyn, NY, was awarded the nation's highest decoration for combat action, the Medal of Honor, for risking his life to save others while deployed to Vietnam.

In March 1968, then Captain Jacobs was advancing in an attack on Viet Cong positions in Kien Phong Province. The attack was repelled by fierce enemy fire, and Jacobs was wounded by mortar fire.

In spite of "profuse bleeding from head wounds which impaired his vision, Captain Jacobs, with complete disregard for his safety, returned under intense fire to evacuate a seriously wounded advisor to the safety of a wooded area where he administered life-saving first aid," reads the citation for the medal.

Jacobs evacuated several wounded other troops in the face of enemy fire and on three separate occasions, contacted and drove off Viet Cong scouts probing the areas, single-handedly killing three enemies and wounding several others.

He is credited for saving the lives of 14 American and allied troops on that fateful day in March.

On Nov. 17, Jacobs will speak about his memoir, "If Not Now, When? Duty and Sacrifice in America's Time of Need." He will focus on his combat experience and life on Wall Street and on television after retiring from the Army.

He will also address current national security subjects and will answer questions from those attending.

Seating is limited. Call the Tuxedo Park Library at 351-2207 to register.