Folks in the Pajaro Valley opened their daily paper on December 6, 1950, to read the news "San Juan Road Soldier killed in Korean War."

Jesse C. Jackson was born in 1927 to Mrs. Nobie Jackson. Jesse grew up in a rural San Juan Road residence and attended school in the Springfield district of the Pajaro Valley.

About 1945 Jessie joined the US Navy and after completing boot camp in San Diego, was assigned to the Pacific Fleet, where he participated in the Bikini atomic bomb test. After three and a half years of naval service, Seaman Jackson was discharged and returned to the Pajaro Valley.

In 1949 Jesse Jackson enlisted in the US Army. After receiving basic and engineer training, he was assigned to the 2nd Engineer Combat Battalion of the 2nd Infantry Division stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington. When the Korean War began, his unit was rushed to Korea and placed in defense of the Pusan Perimeter. The 2nd Infantry Division was the first to break out of the perimeter and the 2nd Engineers Combat became part of the 9th Regimental Combat team as they moved north across 38th parallel.

The History of the 2nd Infantry Division during the Korean War documents the role of Jackson's unit at the time of his death.
“The 9th RCT, attached to the 1st Cavalry Division, was ordered to capture the city of Pugwon and the high ground west of the Chongchon River on 11 November. It moved out the following day and moved into the toughest battle it had faced since its fight for Hill 201 down on the Naktong River. The fighting raged for three days with Pugwon falling late on the 14th with the 9th then crossing the river and attacking north and west where it established contact with other friendly elements attacking north.”

During the fighting on November 15, 1950, Private First Class Jesse C. Jackson was killed in action. The location of his remains has not been identified. Jackson's awards include the Purple Heart.

(ABMC; NARAK; Korean War Veterans Alliance, 2nd Infantry Division During the Korean War, 1991, http://www.2id.org/ naktongriver.htm, [16 September 2008]; WRP December 06, 1950)