I had the privilege to photograph Henry and his wife recently; the warmth between them is every bit as striking as his service record.

At 100 years old, Henry F. Jackson is still quick with a smile—and a challenge. Pinochle, chess, checkers—you name it, he’ll play. But the real measure of Henry’s sharpness is the history he carries, and the courage with which he lived it.

Born August 26, 1925, Henry enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on November 10, 1943—the Marine Corps’ birthday. He trained as one of the Montford Point Marines, the first Black Marines in American history, and served in the Asiatic–Pacific theater until 1946.

In May 2022, the Las Vegas veteran received the Congressional Gold Medal during a ceremony at the Leatherneck Club—part of the national recognition authorized by Public Law 112-59 (2011) to honor the Montford Point Marines collectively for their World War II service.

After the war, Henry went on to serve his community in civilian life—working for the U.S. Postal Service and the City of Chicago—before retiring to Las Vegas, where his story continues to inspire.
By the end of World War II, about 13,000 Montford Pointers deployed overseas, many seeing action in the Pacific—Saipan, Guam, Peleliu, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa—brutal 1944 campaign where Montford Point Marines supported amphibious landings and sustainment under fire, often in ammunition and depot and, at times, fought hand-to-hand when combat reached the beaches and supply lines.

When asked about his experience, he simply stated…
“I joined the Marines in ’43. We did our duty. That’s what mattered.”

250 Faces of Service and Sacrifice