Elizabeth Jacobson

Elizabeth Nicole Jacobson (March 26, 1984 – September 28, 2005) was a United States Air Force Security Forces airman who was killed in action in Iraq in 2005. She was the first female Airman killed in the line of duty in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and the first Security Forces member killed in conflict since Vietnam.

On September 28, 2005 A1C Elizabeth Jacobson, 21, was providing security on a convoy originating from Camp Bucca, Iraq, when the vehicle she was riding in was hit by an improvised explosive device near the Iraqi town of Safwan. The explosion killed her and Army Sergeant Steve Morin Jr., 34 of Arlington, Texas. A third soldier who was manning the vehicles turret weapon was injured but survived the attack.

The Riviera Beach, Florida, native was assigned to the 17th Security Forces Squadron at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas and had deployed to Iraq as part of the 586th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron. Airman Jacobson had been in the Air Force for two years and had been deployed to Iraq for more than three months.

Legacy

 * The U.S. Air Force has established the Elizabeth N. Jacobson Award for Expeditionary Excellence which is given to airmen for outstanding performance during a deployment.


 * A street on Ali Al Salem Air Base running from entry control point Echo 4 to the Republic of Korea Air Force compound was renamed Jacobson Avenue in her honor.


 * Goodfellow Air Force Base renamed the base main gate Jacobson Gate


 * The Eagle Chapter, Air Force Security Police Association, created a challenge coin to honor the memory of A1C Jacobson.

At Lackland Air Force Base there is the Jacobson Training Facility for Security Force Members and the Library in the facility has numerous mementos from Jacobson. The museum on the base also holds her in an honor position.