

Rank and
organization: Captain, U.S. Army
Element, U.S. Military Assistance Command, Republic of
Vietnam. Place
and date: Kien Phong Province,
Republic of
Vietnam, 9 March 1968. Entered service at:
Trenton,
N.J. Born: 2 August
1945, Brooklyn
N.Y. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in
action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Capt. Jacobs (then 1st Lt.),
Infantry, distinguished himself while serving as assistance battalion advisor,
2d Battalion, 16th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division, Army
of the Republic of Vietnam. The 2d
Battalion was advancing to contact when it came under intense heavy machinegun
and mortar fire from a Viet Cong battalion positioned in well fortified
bunkers. As the 2d Battalion deployed
into attack formation its advance was halted by devastating fire. Capt. Jacobs, with the command element of the
lead company, called for and directed air strikes on the enemy positions to
facilitate a renewal attack. Due to the
intensity of the enemy fire and heavy casualties to the command group,
including the company commander, the attack stopped and the friendly troops
became disorganized. Although wounded by
mortar fragments, Capt. Jacobs assumed command of the allied company, ordered a
withdrawal from the exposed position and established a defensive
perimeter. Despite profuse bleeding from
head wounds which impaired his vision, Capt. 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 lifesaving first
aid. He then returned through heavy
automatic weapons fire to evacuate the wounded company commander. Capt. Jacobs made repeated trips across the
fire-swept open rice paddies evacuating wounded and their weapons. On 3 separate occasions, Capt. Jacobs
contracted and drove off Viet Cong squads who were searching for allied wounded
and weapons, singlehandedly killing 3 and wounding
several others. His gallant actions and
extraordinary heroism saved the lives of 1 U.S. advisor and 13 allied soldiers.
Through his effort the allied company was restored to an effective
fighting unit and prevented defeat of the friendly forces by a strong and
determined enemy. Capt. Jacobs, by his
gallantry and bravery in action in the highest traditions of the military
service, has reflected great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S Army.