Celebrating Liz's 23rd Birthday
March 26, 2007 - Sondra Cossimano, Liz Jacobson's Grandmother, held a special
vigil at Airman Jacobson's gravesite today to commemorate Liz's 23d birthday
had she lived. Sondra placed a Proud Warrior coin on Liz's headstone to
pay a special recognition of this event. See a closer photo of the coin on
Airman Jacobson's headstone below.
Visit with Sondra and Cos
March 23, 2007 - Jim Saulnier, South Atlantic Regional Director, AF Security Police Association, and Treasurer Eagle Chapter, recently visited with Sondra and Cos in West Palm Beach FL. Jim (shown at right below) presented them with the chapter's Proud Warrior Coins.
Jacobson Family Awarded Eagle's Global War Badge
March 13, 2007 - Members of the Space Coast Chapter of AF Security Police Association presented Sondra and Cos with small memento of thanks - Eagle Chapter's Global War on Terrorism Badge. Eagle awarded Sondra and Cos with Badge No.003. Badges No 4, 5 and 6 will be awarded to the families of the other Security Force members who were killed in action in Iraq.
Space Coast members (first photo below) who participated in the presentation to Sondra and Cos are Col (Retired) David Rubenstein (at left) and Ted Whitlock (at far right). Ted is the President of the Space Coast Chapter.
In the second photo (immediately below), Space Coast Member, Ed Garcia, comes in from behind the camera to add his thanks.
Eagle Chairman Lee Chambers presented GWOT Badge No. 001 and 002 to Brigadier General Mary Kay Hertog and Chief Master Sergeant Bruce Broder, the Air Force's Top Cop and Top Security Forces NCO (respectively) during the AF Security Police Association's 20th Anniversary Meeting that was held in Washington DC in the Fall of 2006.
Air Force Approves Elizabeth N. Jacobson Award
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 12 2006. Air Force approves the Elizabeth N. Jacobson Award for Expeditionary Excellence. A1C Elizabeth Nicole Jacobson was the first Security Force member and the first AF female to be killed in action in Iraq. An initiative sponsored by Gen Robert H. Holmes and Chief Master Sergeant Bruce Broder, this new annual Security Forces award will formally recognize the war fighting contributions and outstanding accomplishments of our youngest warriors, our first-enlistment Security Forces Airmen. Gen Holmes and Chief Broder are the Air Forces top security forces officer and enlisted member, respectively.
In a statement released May 12, General Holmes stated, "Elizabeth and her courage, compassion and contribution to both our nation and society will not be forgotten. She was a truly exceptional woman and will be remembered each year as we honor the next generation of outstanding young Security Forces Warriors."
AF Dedicates Gate to A1C Jacobson
Officials at Goodfellow Air Force Base Texas dedicate base gate in honor of A1C Elizabeth N. Jacobson, the first Security Forces Airman and the first Air Force female to be killed in action in Iraq. Major Ken O'Neil, 17th Security Forces Squadron Commander, led the base dedication ceremony. Airman Jacobson was assigned at Goodfellow AFB at the time of her death.
Jacobson's Gravesite
If you would like to see the location of Liz's grave site, click on the memorial image below.
Eagle Chapter Mourns the Loss of our First Security Forces Airman to be Killed in Action in Operation Iraqi Freedom
Airman First Class Elizabeth Nicole (Liz) Jacobson
11/4//2005 - Portions
excerpted from AFPN -- While
providing security for a convoy on Wednesday September 28 near Camp Bucca
Iraq, Airman 1st Class Elizabeth Nicole Jacobson, 21, of Riviera Beach Florida,
became the first Security Forces Airman and the first female Air Force member to
give her life for Operation Iraqi Freedom.
She died as a result of her vehicle making contact with an improvised explosive
device (IED). Camp Bucca is near the southern city of Safwan Iraq.
Airman Jacobson was assigned to the same flight as Senior Airman Brian
Kolfage of the 17th Security Forces Squadron at Goodfellow Air Force Base,
Texas.
Airman Jacobson had been in Iraq for just over three months. "A1C Jacobson was a great troop...always sought the hardest challenges and never gave up. She worked very hard to get on the convoy section and had only been working it for a couple of weeks when the incident occurred. She was a bright and intelligent young lady who cared deeply for her country and the military."
In photo, Airman 1st Class Jacobson is joined by, from left, Senior Airman Chris Farren, Senior Airman Steve Campos, and Tech Sergeant Bob Pullen.
Ted Whitlock, Chairman of the Space Coast Chapter of AFSPA, has made contact with Elizabeth's family and has collaborated with the Patrick Air Force Base Florida Chaplain's office to provide additional bereavement assistance to her family. Airman Jacobson had adopted her 16-year old sister who is living with her grandmother while Elizabeth was deployed to Iraq. Additionally, Ted and the Space Coast Chapter will be representing AFSPA at the funeral and presenting a floral wreath on behalf of the association.
A special video is available to commemorate Elizabeth. Click here to download or view it.
Proud Warrior Donations. Elizabeth's Grandmother, Sondra (shown with her in photo with husband (and grandfather) Cos, recommended that families and friends donate to Proud Warrior in lieu of sending flowers or money. As of Nov 4, donors have given $310.00 to Proud Warrior on behalf of Elizabeth.
Commemoration, Memorial Services, and her Funeral
On Wednesday, October 5, in commemoration of Elizabeth's body arriving in the US, Eagle Chapter placed wreaths at the World War II Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, the Vietnam War Memorial and the Vietnam War Women's Memorial in Washington DC.
Headquarters USAF Security Force members plus present and former Security Force members from the Air Force Security Police Association and the Vietnam Security Police Association were on hand at Dover AFB DE to welcome Elizabeth back home.
Click here to see the wreaths that Eagle Chapter placed at veteran war memorials in Washington DC on the day that Elizabeth's remains arrived back home in the USA.
On Thursday, October 6, her home station, Goodfellow AFB Texas, held a memorial service for Elizabeth adjacent to the base chapel.
Also on October 6, in Kuwait, at a Chapel at Ali Al Salem - known as "The Rock" - over 225 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and multinational partners crowded a base chapel to pay final respects to their comrade in arms.
“For those of you who
didn’t know Airman 1st Class Jacobson, she was more than another article in the
papers, she was more than the first female Airman to have fallen in Iraq, she
was more than a hero. She was my troop, my friend and a person only few have
been lucky enough to know,” said Staff Sgt. Katrina Hunt, of the 386th
Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron.
Col. Timothy Hale, 386th Air Expeditionary Wing commander, spoke about Airman
Jacobson’s courage, dedication and the unanswered questions filling the space
where a young Airman once stood.
“Of course, we don’t have any of those answers. But because we have the
questions, we clearly have a responsibility to stand in the breach for her,” he
said. “We are not just the beneficiaries of her bravery; we are the stewards of
her sacrifice.”
Lt. Col. David Briar, 586th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron commander
talked about his conversation with Airman Jacobson’s father.
“I spoke to her dad the day after. We both grieved and then he told me how she
was excited to be (deployed) and working on convoys,” he said.
Paying Tribute to a caring hero. In photo at left, Brig Gen Robert Holmes, HQ USAF, leads salute to fallen comrade. In photo at middle, General Holmes presents the US flag that draped over Elizabeth's casket to her family. At right, Air Force jets streak over head to bid a final farewell to an Airmen who was extremely proud of being in the Air Force.
On Sunday, October 9, funeral services for Elizabeth was held near her home town in Pompano Beach Florida. The Air Force Director of Security Forces at Headquarters US Air Force, Brigadier General Robert Holmes, attended from the Pentagon in Washington DC. General Holmes presented the US Flag that draped over Elizabeth's casket to her family to express the condolences of an extremely grateful nation. Ed Garcia, Major USAF - Retired, Space Coast Chapter AFSPA, reported that over a 100 Air Force Airmen were in attendance. Members of her Air Force Security Forces family were noticeably present as contingents from the 6th Security Forces Squadron at MacDill AFB Florida, 17th Security Forces Squadron at Goodfellow AFB Texas, and the 45th Security Forces Squadron from Patrick AFB FL were in attendance.
Air Force jet fighters streaked over head to pay a final tribute to Elizabeth as Airmen played taps and presented a final, 21-gun salute.
Elizabeth's family thanked the military members for attending and for keeping our country free and for their continuing sacrifices for a free Iraq.
Airman Jacobson joins Airman Laura A. Lucas as the first Security Forces Female Airmen to be killed in action. Our prayers go to A1C Jacobson's family and to our Security Forces Airmen at Goodfellow AFB Texas who have experienced a second tragic loss from their Security Forces family due as a result of hostile actions. SRA Kolfage, our second Proud Warrior Honoree, was also assigned to Goodfellow medically retired earlier this year .
"A1C Jacobson is a true Proud Warrior." Senior Airman (Ret) Brian Kolfage. Brian has created a web site for A1C Jacobson.
You can click here to go to the site that Brian has created for Elizabeth.
Vietnam Security Police Association's Tribute to Elizabeth can be found by clicking here.
Eagle Chapter Air Force Security Police Association is a nonprofit organization. You can make contributions to the chapter by sending a check to the mailing address noted below. Click on the mailbox icon/graphic to see details. You can also send a donation to our Proud Warrior program by clicking on the Donate button below.
