Ritchie Boys Wiki

Jacobs, Harry A (33743685): Difference between revisions

← Older editNewer edit →
VisualWikitext
Add Field Notes voyage/OB Team 24 attachment dates; cite Gross misc
Rewrite Jacobs bio as flowing prose; sync vitals; fix multi-award ribbon rack
Line 28: Line 28:
|division=4th Armored Division
|division=4th Armored Division
|years_of_service=1943–1945
|years_of_service=1943–1945
|awards=Bronze Star Medal; French Croix de Guerre; Bronze Star Medal with V-device; French Legion of Honor
|awards=Bronze Star Medal; Bronze Star Medal with V-device; French Croix de Guerre; French Legion of Honor
|awards_grid=Bronze Star Medal
|awards_grid=Bronze Star Medal with V-device;;French Croix de Guerre;;French Legion of Honor
|awards_ribbons=Ribbon_Bronze_Star_Medal_ribbon.png
|awards_ribbons=Ribbon_Bronze_Star_Medal_ribbon.png; Ribbon_Croix_de_Guerre_1939-1945.png; Ribbon_Legion_Honneur_Chevalier.png
|awards_ribbon_rows=Ribbon_Bronze_Star_Medal_ribbon.png
|awards_ribbon_rows=Ribbon_Bronze_Star_Medal_ribbon.png;;Ribbon_Croix_de_Guerre_1939-1945.png;;Ribbon_Legion_Honneur_Chevalier.png
|awards_extra=French Croix de Guerre; Bronze Star Medal with V-device; French Legion of Honor
|awards_extra=
|ipw_ge=24
|ipw_ge=24
|birth_date=30 April 1924
|death_date=23 November 2018
}}
}}


<div class="soldier-lead">
<div class="soldier-lead">
'''Harry A. Jacobs''' (1924&ndash;2018) was a Ritchie Boy who trained at [[Camp Ritchie]] in [[Class 12]] and Class 10 and served in military intelligence with the 4th Armored Division.
'''Harry A. Jacobs''' (30 April 1924&ndash;23 November 2018), born Helmut Jakob, was a German-born Ritchie Boy (Class 12 / OB Class 10) who served as an Order of Battle specialist with OB Team 24 of the 4th Armored Division.
</div>
</div>


== Biography ==
== Biography ==
Jacobs, born Helmut Jakob, was born in Mannheim, Germany, and emigrated to the United States during the Nazi period.
Harry A. Jacobs, born Helmut Jakob, was born on 30 April 1924 in Mannheim, Germany, and emigrated to the United States during the Nazi period. He attended Eastern High School in Washington, D.C., from 1938 to 1940.


From 1938 to 1940, Harry graduated Eastern High School in Washington, DC. In February 1947, Jacobs attended BS Degree, Foreign Service, Georgetown University.
Jacobs enlisted at Fort Myer, Virginia, on 23 June 1943 as a private (ASN 33743685). He trained at [[Camp Ritchie]] in IPW German Class 12 and completed postgraduate Order of Battle Class 10. Naturalized at Hagerstown, Maryland, on 2 November 1943, he was promoted to master sergeant in March 1944, crossed to Europe aboard RMS ''Queen Mary'', and after a short British OB course in London was assigned to OB Team 24 with the 4th Armored Division. He entered combat in July 1944, later served with CIC Detachment 504, and returned to the United States in late 1945.


He enlisted at Fort Myer, Virginia, on June 23, 1943, as a private (ASN 33743685).
After the war he studied toward a foreign-service degree at Georgetown University. Jacobs wrote military-intelligence novels, including ''The Raid Toward Prague: May 1945''. He died on 23 November 2018, several months after that book’s publication.
 
He trained at Camp Ritchie in IPW-Ge Class 12 and completed OB Class 10, qualifying as an Order of Battle analyst.
 
On 2 November 1943, Jacobs was naturalized at Hagerstown, MD (5827246). He was promoted to master sergeant in March 1944 and assigned to SHAEF military intelligence in London. Jacobs served with OB Team 24 of the 4th Armored Division and entered combat in July 1944.
 
He was later attached to CIC Detachment 504 and returned to the United States in late 1945.
 
Harry Jacobs died several months after seeing the publication of his book.


== Gallery ==
== Gallery ==
Line 145: Line 139:
* 23 June 1943 — Enlisted as Pvt (ASN 33743685) at Fort Myer, VA.
* 23 June 1943 — Enlisted as Pvt (ASN 33743685) at Fort Myer, VA.
* 25 November 1943 — Graduated Class 12 as IPW Ge German Linguist (Cert.No. 4269).
* 25 November 1943 — Graduated Class 12 as IPW Ge German Linguist (Cert.No. 4269).
* 25 November 1943 — Graduated Class 12 as IPW Ge German Linguist (Certificate 4269).
* 11 July 1944 — 4th Armored (“Spearhead”) Division landed at Utah Beach. Entered combat on 17 July 1944.
* 11 July 1944 — 4th Armored (“Spearhead”) Division landed at Utah Beach. Entered combat on 17 July 1944.
* 11 July 1944 — 4th Armored Division landed at Utah Beach. Entered combat on 17 July 1944.
* 13 March 1944 — Alerted for overseas deployment, promoted to M/Sgt.
* 13 March 1944 — Alerted for overseas deployment, promoted to M/Sgt.
* 17 April 1944 — Assigned to Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF), Military Intelligence Service in London.
* 17 April 1944 — Assigned to Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF), Military Intelligence Service in London.
* 17 April 1944 — Reported and assigned to SHAEF (MIS) in London.
* 18 May 1944 — Assigned to newly established OB Team 24 for duty with 4th Armored Division (3rd Army).
* 18 May 1944 — Assigned to newly established OB Team 24 for duty with 4th Armored Division (3rd Army).
* 4 July 1944 — Pvt Harry B. Levine (1906-1993) assigned to OB 24 from OB 33 (78th Infantry Div).
* 4 July 1944 — Pvt Harry B. Levine (1906-1993) assigned to OB 24 from OB 33 (78th Infantry Div).
Line 157: Line 148:
* November 1945 — Detailed to 79th Infantry Division for shipment back to the U. S.
* November 1945 — Detailed to 79th Infantry Division for shipment back to the U. S.
* 26 August 1996 — Awarded Bronze Star Medal with V-device by Department of the Army.
* 26 August 1996 — Awarded Bronze Star Medal with V-device by Department of the Army.
* 26 August 1996 — Awarded Bronze Star Medal with V-device by Department of the.
* 4 March 2015 — Awarded French Legion of Honor at French Embassy, Wash, DC.
* 4 March 2015 — Awarded French Legion of Honor at French Embassy, Wash, DC.
* 4 March 2015 — Awarded French Legion of Honor at French Embassy, Washington DC.
* 30 April 1924 — Born in Mannheim, Germany (Helmut A. Jakob).
* Born 30 April 2024 in Germany (Helmut A. Jakob).
* 11/45 Detailed to 79th Infantry Division for shipment back to the U. S.
* 11/45 Detailed to 79th Infantry Division for shipment back to the U. S.
* 6/45 Attached to CIC Detachment 504.
* 6/45 Attached to CIC Detachment 504.
Retrieved from "https://ritchieboys.org/wiki/Jacobs,_Harry_A_(33743685)"