Elizabeth Jacobson

Elizabeth Nicole "Liz" Jacobson (March 26, 1984 – September 28, 2005) was a United States Air Force airman who was killed in action in the Iraq War in 2005. A member of the U.S. Air Force Security Forces, she was the first female U.S. airman killed in the line of duty in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and the first Air Force Security Forces member killed in conflict since the Vietnam War.[1]

Elizabeth Nicole Jacobson
Birth nameElizabeth Nicole Jacobson
Nickname(s)"Liz"
Born(1984-03-26)March 26, 1984
Orlando, Florida, U.S.
DiedSeptember 28, 2005(2005-09-28) (aged 21)
Safwan, Basra Governorate, Iraq
Buried
Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens, Pompano Beach, Florida, U.S.
(26.258624°N 80.125002°W / 26.258624; -80.125002)
Allegiance United States
Service/branch United States Air Force
Years of service2003–2005
Rank Airman first class
Unit
  • 17th Security Forces Squadron
  • 586th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron
Battles/warsIraq War
  • Operation Iraqi Freedom †
AwardsBronze Star Medal
Purple Heart Medal
Air Force Combat Action Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Air Force Training Ribbon
Websitehttp://airmanjacobson.com/

Early life and education

Jacobson, who was Jewish,[2] was born and raised in Florida.[3] She attended Palm Beach Gardens and Gold Coast high schools.[4] and resided in the Riviera Beach area.

Career
Jacobson

Jacobson enlisted in 2003 and was trained in Texas where she completed training in 2004 and was then posted to 17th Security Forces Squadron also based in Texas, her last posting was to Camp Bucca, Iraq in early 2005.

On September 28, 2005, while Jacobson was guarding a convoy originating from Camp Bucca, Iraq, the vehicle she was riding in was hit by an improvised explosive device near the Iraqi town of Safwan. The explosion killed her and U.S. Army sergeant Steve Morin Jr., 34 years old, from Arlington, Texas.[5] A third soldier who was manning the vehicle's turret weapon was injured but survived the attack.

At the time of her death, she was assigned to the 17th Security Forces Squadron at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas[6] and had deployed to Iraq as part of the 586th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron. Jacobson had been in the Air Force for two years and had been deployed to Iraq for more than three months.

Jacobson is buried at the Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens in Pompano Beach, Florida.[7]

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.[8] A street on Ali Al Salem Air Base running from entry control point "Echo 4" to a South Korean air force compound was renamed Jacobson Avenue in her honor.[9] Goodfellow Air Force Base renamed the base main gate Jacobson Gate[10] The Eagle Chapter, Air Force Security Police Association, created a challenge coin to honor the memory of Jacobson.[11] 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. The Travis AFB First Term Airman's Center is named after Jacobson.

Assignments
  1. 2003 – 2004, 17th Training Wing, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas
  2. 2004 – 2005, 17th Security Forces Squadron, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas
  3. 2005 – 2005, Camp Bucca, Iraq

Awards and decorations
Personal decorations
Bronze Star Medal
Purple Heart
Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force Combat Action Medal
Unit Awards
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Campaign and service medals
National Defense Service Medal
 Iraq Campaign Medal with one bronze Service star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Service, training, and marksmanship awards
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold frame
Air Force Training Ribbon
Other accoutrements
Force Protection Badge
United States Air Force Security Forces Shield

References
  1. "Seasoned Airman, young 'AF cop' early female casualties of war on terror". March 8, 2013. Archived from the original on January 16, 2014.
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-12-29. Retrieved 2012-12-29.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. https://www.fallenheroesproject.org/united-states/elizabeth-nicole-jacobson/
  4. https://thefallen.militarytimes.com/air-force-airman-1st-class-elizabeth-n-jacobson/2618900
  5. Military Times. "Army Sgt. Steve Morin Jr". Honor the Fallen. Archived from the original on 2014-01-16. Retrieved 2014-01-14.
  6. Military Times. "Air Force Airman 1st Class Elizabeth N. Jacobson". Honor the Fallen. Archived from the original on 2014-01-16. Retrieved 2014-01-14.
  7. Maia EfremFeb 9, 2011(Updated Jun 8, 2011). "Profiles of Our Fallen - News –". Forward.com. Retrieved 2016-01-06.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. "Vance SP named AETC winner of new award". Archived from the original on 2011-07-22. Retrieved 2007-08-07.
  9. Goodfellow Air Force Base. "Remembering our veterans" (PDF). Goodfellow Monitor. United States Air Force. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-02-21.
  10. "Airman voices expectations to NCOs". Archived from the original on 2011-05-27. Retrieved 2007-08-07.
  11. "Eagle Chapter, Air Force Security Police Association : Jacobson Coin". Archived from the original on 2007-08-31. Retrieved 2008-01-30.
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