John Jakovac |
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On November 11, 1972, I bought a POW/MIA bracelet from one of my students at Ann Arbor’s Community High School and put it on my right wrist. It’s been there ever since. The bracelet reads “S/SGT. JOHN JAKOVAC, 5-29-67,” and honors an American soldier reported missing in action during the Vietnam Conflict. For many years, I chose not to investigate John’s background — although, thanks to the internet, it seemed clear that there'd be information about him available, if I wanted it. To me, though, he symbolized the 2500 American servicemen lost during the horror that was Vietnam, and I chose not to focus in too closely on the specifics of his individual case. In the 1980s, I used the bracelet — and John's name — as a clue in one of my Mahboob Chaudri stories, “The Ivory Beast,” and someone from John’s old Army unit found the story, which I’d posted elsewhere on this website, and contacted me, sending me the picture which appears at the upper left on this page. Later, he sent me a link to a high-school project by Allison Johnston, whose father also wears John’s MIA bracelet. It was a very touching look at the life and final mission and tragic death of this young man whose name I have carried with me for more than half of my life, but is unfortunately no longer available for viewing online. The photo of John's grave to the left is the only reminder I have of Allison's project. More recently, an Internet search brings up this page on the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency's website, which lists the date of Staff Sergeant Jakovac's death as May 31, 1967, two days after the date listed on the bracelet I continue to wear. According to that website, he was a member of a long-range reconnaissance patrol in Quang Ngai Province and was ambushed and killed by enemy forces. As far as I can tell, he was twenty years old. |
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