Timothy John Jacobsen
Sergeant
A CO, 101ST AVN BN, 101ST AVN GROUP, 101ST ABN DIV, USARV
Army of the United States
Oakland, California
February 19, 1950 to May 17, 1972
(Incident Date May 16, 1971)
TIMOTHY J JACOBSEN is on the Wall at Panel W1, Line 26

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Timothy J Jacobsen
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30 November 2001

I can't even begin to find the words to describe my brother, Timothy John Jacobsen, also known as "Jake". He was bigger than life. Born to Kermit and Margie Jacobsen, the fifth of eight, the second of two boys, he was "full of it" from the day he was born! He said it was because he had to put up with six sisters.

JacobsenTJ01d.jpg Tim had a knack for getting into trouble but it was never anything serious and it just made me love him even more. We were raised on ranches ... dairy, then cattle and sheep. He loved being out in the mountains, gathering cattle, ranching, and I think he was most happy when he was on horseback. The girls loved him, he was rather charming, our family loved him more than we can say, his buddies were true blue to him as he was to them.

JacobsenTJ01e.jpg He was quite the rodeo star. Started riding bulls at an early age and by the time he was 18 he was the best in Humboldt County, California. He was known for his wild collection of bullriding shirts, brightly colored satin in turquoise, purple and red ... he said they brought him good luck! He was fearless, I guess that's why he became a door gunner. Family and friends meant everything to Tim. We were all very close, loved him dearly and miss him more than we can say. You could count on him to be there for you in a heartbeat. He had one of the sweetest hearts I've ever known and a smile that could light up any room.

I was only 14 when he was shot down but memories don't fade, they just get stronger.

He was one of the good guys.
He was my hero.


If you knew Tim
I would love to hear from you -
Cindy Jacobsen McWhorter
cinderellamc1@aol.com


 
21 March 2002

Thank you, my young friend - for my freedom ... and that of my 4 children and 4 grandchildren. The cost of your blood is not in vain ... You are remembered ... and as long as I have breath I will remember ... and talk to others of your's and all the others before you ... blood ...

Thank you all ... Amen.

From a cousin,
Jim Kirk
US Air Force 1973-76
jrkirkjr1@attbi.com


 
06 Nov 2002

Dearest Tim,
I have worn your POW/MIA bracelet for many years. I am now in
contact with your sister Cindy. We will keep the fire going
until you are home again with your loved ones. I will continue
to wear your bracelet until then as well. My love and prayers
are with you and your family always.

Kathie Jacobsen-Wilcox
lvhs72@aol.com


 

The Mission

On 16 May 1971 "A" Company, 101st Aviation Battalion, was tasked with conducting a combat assault insertion of ARVN Marines into a landing zone (LZ) in the vicinity of Hue, Thua Thien Province, South Vietnam. The seventh UH-1H (hull number 68-15491) in line for landing was crewed by
  • CPT Joseph Paul Nolan, Jr, pilot
  • CW2 Craig Lee Farlow, copilot
  • SP5 Elliott Crook, crew chief
  • SP4 Timothy John Jacobsen, door gunner
On departing the LZ, pilots of the fifth and sixth helicopters stated that they were taking enemy fire. After touchdown, then-1LT Nolan radioed that he was taking heavy ground fire and that his crew chief was wounded. 1LT Nolan immediately took off. Witnesses saw his aircraft climb to about 250 feet, where it rapidly lost rotor RPM and crashed into the tree tops, bursting into flames. No survivors were seen to exit the aircraft.

On 24 May a search and recovery team made a ground search and found badly burned human remains outside the wreckage. It was also noted that additional possible remains were trapped under the heavy wreckage. The remains recovered - those outside the wreckage - were later determined to be Vietnamese. The remains trapped within the wreckage could not be recovered because of hostile fire.

The four American crewmen were placed in "Missing in Action" status. At the first annual review of their status, the reviewing board concluded that all available evidence indicated the four crewmen had died in the crash. Findings of death were therefore issued on 17 May 1972 for the four men. As of 04 November 2003 their remains have not been repatriated.

Two other Americans were killed in the assault, both on the ground after deplaning - 1LT Thomas Kukowski, Montclair, NJ, and CPL David R. Winkle, Bountiful, Utah, from HQ Company, 101st Aviation Group.


Sergeant Timothy John Jacobsen
is remembered by his comrades in
A Company, 101st Aviation Battalion


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