Vernon Jackson, born on February 22, 1925, served in the Marines during the Battle of Iwo Jima. He sustained a leg wound within the first few days of his deployment and was later removed from combat, earning the Purple Heart. He and his nine siblings grew up on a big farm. He has enjoyed having a big garden and his favorite thing to raise was turnip greens. When he was in his eighties, he was still repairing lawn mowers.