Nevada Focus: World War II vet fights for equality

Thursday, Jan. 14, 1999 | 3:32 a.m.

"When I was in the service there was a great deal of racial bigotry going on," Inman said. "When I got out of the service it was the same."

Inman said he was struck with "divine inspiration" in June 1992, when he became the commander of his VFW Post 9211 in Sparks for two years. That inspiration was to bring attention to the many different ethnic groups that served and died for our country.

"It doesn't matter what color the skin," Inman said. "When people get shot or bombed they all bleed the same color."

Inman and Jerry Lazzari, co-chairs of the Veterans Memorial Commission, are making a concerted effort to honor all the races that paid the ultimate price fighting for this country.

One honor that Inman is trying to actuate is for Private First Class Arthur S. Jackson, who was a Pyramid Lake Paiute and one of Nevada's most highly decorated servicemen.

Inman is petitioning the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribal Council to name the new high school in Nixon after Jackson.

"Jackson was born in Nixon," Inman said. "I think it would be a befitting tribute to the man and the Native American people."

Jackson was born Feb. 3, 1924 in Nixon, the fourth child of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Jackson. He attended school in Wadsworth before enlisting in the U. S. Army in 1943 and became a paratrooper with the 101st Airborne Division.

Jackson saw a great deal of action during the war, and was decorated for his heroism multiple times. He enlisted when he was 19 and by the time he was 21, he had received 32 war decorations from five different countries.

His decorations included the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, Purple Heart (five times), Bronze Star (seven times), the Soldier's Medal and the Croix De Guerra from France, Belgium, Holland, and Luxembourg. He also wore the Combat Infantry badge and a Distinguished Unit badge with four clusters.

He was wounded five times and was missing in action in Germany for several weeks. The French and Belgian underground helped him return to his unit.

Jackson met his wife Betty during the war when she was a member of the Belgian underground. They were married in Belgium Sept. 23, 1946 and had a son, Robert George. The family returned to the United States in March 1948. Linda Josine was born to the couple after they returned to Sparks.

Jackson died at the age of 33 on June 18, 1957. He fell from the roof of a shed he was building for his mother at her home in Sparks. His wife Betty Law, who has since remarried and moved to Arizona, said an autopsy revealed he probably had a heart attack.

"The doctor said his heart was worn out," said Law. "I imagine it had a lot to do with the war. He didn't speak about it much, but I can imagine how frightened he must have been. It had to take its toll somehow."

Law said after the war both she and Jackson worked for the Smith family at Harold's Club in Reno. Law was a 21 dealer and Jackson a keyman in the slot department.

"Before I came to the U.S. as a war bride, Arthur worked for Harold's Club putting up the Harold's Club or Bust signs all over the country," Law said, explaining that she did not immediately return to the United States with Jackson. "I always had trouble getting mail to him because he was on the road so much."

Law said she was pleased her former husband's memory was being honored. Their son Robert, who lives in Arizona, said he would attend should a ceremony commemorating his father's name occur.

Jackson's sister Edith Jackson, who lives in Sparks, said it is a very nice thing that Inman was trying to do.

"We have a very close family," Jackson said. "We all think it would be a nice tribute to my brother."

Inman was hoping to be able to display Jackson's medals at the high school, but found they had been lost several years ago.

"I spoke with Congressman Gibbons and he's going to see if the medals can be reissued," Inman said. "If they are reissued they will go to Jackson's son, Robert."