Gilder D. Jackson, Jr.

Gilder Davis Jackson Jr. (July 5, 1893 - February 19, 1966) was a highly decorated officer of the United States Marine Corps with the rank of brigadier general, who is most noted for his service as commanding officer of the 6th Marine Regiment during the Guadalcanal Campaign.

Early career
Gilder D. Jackson Jr. was born on July 5, 1893, in Dover, Delaware. He attended Wenonah Military Academy in Wenonah, New Jersey and graduated in 1912. Jackson later joined the Marine Corps on April 17, 1917 and was commissioned Second lieutenant on the same date. He attended the basic training at Marine Barracks Parris Island, South Carolina and was assigned to the 18th Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment stationed at Marine Barracks Quantico, Virginia. Jackson was appointed Platoon leader within his company and sailed for France in June 1917.

He commanded his platoon as first lieutenant during the Battle of Belleau Wood in June 1918 and was wounded in the cheek while leading the attack on an enemy machine gun post. Despite his wound, Jackson continued the attack and successfully reached the objective. For his gallanty in action, he was decorated with the Silver Star citation. Jackson recovered quickly, was promoted to the rank of captain and assigned to 43rd Company, 2nd Battalion. He participated with distinction in the Battle of Soissons at the end of July 1918, when he took out an enemy artillery position near the town of Vierzy and captured many prisoners, including two officers. Jackson was subsequently decorated with the Navy Cross for his actions and also received French Croix de guerre 1914–1918 with Palm by the Government of France.

Captain Jackson subsequently participated in the Battle of Saint-Mihiel and was wounded again, but he was back for the upcoming Battle of Blanc Mont Ridge in October 1918. He participated in this battle as commander of 20th Company, 3rd Battalion 5th Marines and commanded that unit also during Meuse-Argonne Offensive in November 1918.

Navy Cross Citation

 * Action Date: 18 July 1918
 * Name: Gilder D. Jackson Jr.
 * Service: United States Marine Corps
 * Rank: Captain
 * Company: 43rd Company
 * Regiment: 5th Marines
 * Division: 2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces
 * Citation: The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Major [then Captain] Gilder D. Jackson, Jr. (MCSN: 0-469), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving with the 43d Company, 5th Regiment (Marines), 2d Division, A.E.F., near Vierzy, France, in action early on the morning of 18 July 1918. As Second in Command of the 43d (F) Company, Fifth Marines, while on a mission to establish liaison with a neighboring unit, Major Jackson discovered an enemy battery firing on our supporting tanks from a position concealed in a wheat field. With a splendid display of initiative and leadership, he gathered together a few men whom he organized and most skillfully and gallantly led against this position, capturing many prisoners, including two officers, four pieces of artillery, two mobile trench mortars and undoubtedly saved to the battalion by his timely act the five undamaged tanks that played such an important role in the later action.

Interwar period
Jackson remained in the Marine Corps after the War and served with occupation forces in Germany as Second in command of 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment. He returned to the United States in July 1919 as was assigned to the Marine Corps recruiting office in St. Louis, Missouri, where he remained until 1923. Jackson was subsequently transferred to the Marine Detachment aboard the battleship USS Tennessee and participated in shore duties in China and Haiti as a member of First Brigade of Marines.

Later he attended the Advanced course at Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia. Jackson was transferred to 5th Marine Regiment at Marine Barracks Quantico, Virginia in 1935. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel in June 1936 and given command of 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, where he relieved Lt. Col. LeRoy P. Hunt. Jackson served in this capacity until June 1937, when he was relieved by Lemuel C. Shepherd Jr. and appointed commander of the Marine Corps Basic School at Quantico.

World War II
At the time of Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor, Jackson was stationed at Hawaii as commanding officer of local Marine Barracks. He was transferred to Camp Elliott, California, in August 1942 and appointed commanding officer of 6th Marine Regiment, where he relieved Colonel Leo D. Hermle. His regiment sailed within 2nd Marine Division to South Pacific, where he participated in the Battle of Guadalcanal and commanded his regiment also during the Battle of Gifu.

Jackson remained in command of the 6th Marines until 13 April 1943, when he was relieved by Lt. Colonel Lyman G. Miller. He suffered malaria and was sent back to the states for treatment. For his service in Pacific, Jackson was decorated with Legion of Merit with Combat "V".

He spent almost month in the Naval Hospital, San Diego, before he was appointed Area Inspector of the Fleet Marine Force in the San Diego area under the command of Lieutenant General Holland M. Smith in July 1943. Jackson served in this capacity until April 1944, when he was transferred to the Marine Barracks at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Washington. He completed his career as commanding officer of the Marine Corps Base San Diego from January 3 to July 28, 1946. Jackson was relieved by Brigadier General Leo D. Hermle and subsequently retired from the Marine Corps on December 1, 1946. He was also advanced to the rank of brigadier general on the retired list for having been specially commended in combat.

Brigadier General Gilder D. Jackson died on February 19, 1966 in Coronado, California, and is buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery together with his wife Vesta Elliot Jackson (1900–1980). They had together one son, Gilder D. Jackson III.

Decorations
Here is the ribbon bar of Brigadier General Gilder D. Jackson Jr.: