OSS Jackson, William Harding

John Robertson

Administrator
Staff member
  • SURNAME
Jackson

  • FORENAME
William Harding

  • UNIT
OSS Chief Intelligence Officer attached General Omar N. Bradley's HQ

  • RANK
Colonel

  • NUMBER

  • AWARD
Bronze Star

  • PLACE
Europe

  • ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Wall Street lawyer in civilian life
Deputy Director,CIA 1950-51

 
William Harding Jackson (1901-1971)

Col. William Harding "Bill" Jackson (US Army Air Forces serial number 0900440) was born 25Mar1901 in the Belle Meade Plantation Mansion, Nashville, Tennessee, the only child of William Harding Jackson (1874-1903) and Anne Davis Richardson (1877-1954). At age 10 he attended the Fay School and St. Mark's in Southborough, Massachusetts; graduated Princeton University (BA, 1924); graduated Harvard University School of Law (LLB, 1928); became a law associate at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft (2-years) then moved to Beekman, Bogue & Clark. 1930 joined Carter, Ledyard & Milburn at No. 2 Wall Street, NYC where he became a full partner and the hiring partner in 1934 through 1947; Jackson enlisted voluntarily in the US Army-Air Force 06Mar1942 at the urging of his close friend Col. Tommy Hitchcock the world famous champion polo player and former pilot with the WW-I French Lafayette Escadrille; he attended 2nd class ever graduated from US Army-Air Forces Combat Intelligence School at Harrisburg, PA (May-Jun3, 1942); assigned USA-AF Air Intelligence HQ 1st Bomber Command at 90 Church Street, NYC, NY (as Assistant A-2 Intelligence) which became the USAAF Anti-Submarine Command; Promoted to Major in 1942; Promoted to Lt. Col. 01Jan1943 and reassigned as Adjutant General for the new European Wing-Air Transport Command (EWATC) with HQ at No. 1 Great Cumberland Place, London; with dual-undercover assignment as ULTRA SCIU Chief of Secret Intelligence ETO-USA; Reassigned 27Mar1943 to the U.S. Embassy (London) with undercover title "Assistant Military Attaché for Air" while retaining title OSS Chief of Secret Intelligence working in close coordination with RAF Air Vice Marshal, Sir John Slessor while reporting to David Bruce, General George C. Marshall, General Hap Arnold and Secretary of War, Henry Stimson; Reassigned 22Jan1944 as Assistant G-2 Intelligence HQ ETO-USA-London for Gen. Jake Devers; January 1944 briefed Gen. Eisenhower on V-1 and V-2 rocket development at Pennemunde, Germany. Reassigned 27Feb1944 by General Eisenhower as Chief of G-2 Intelligence Branch at 1st US Army Group (FUSAG) to conduct intelligence and counter-espionage for "Operation Bodyguard" D-Day deception plan in close coordination with Brig. Gen. Thomas J. "T.J." Betts SHAEF Deputy G-2 and Maj. Gen. Kenneth W.D. Strong SHAEF G-2 for Gen. Eisenhower; June 1944 following D-Day invasion of France FUSAG became 12th Army Group where Jackson remained Chief of the Intelligence Branch with General Bradley's forward EAGLE-TAC HQ at Verdun, then Luxembourg where (during the middle of the Battle of the Bulge in the Ardennes Forest) on 01Jan1945, Colonel Jackson was promoted to Deputy G-2 Intelligence for all armies in 12th Army Group working in close coordination with Brig. Gen. Edwin L. Sibert (12th AG G-2), Allen Welsh Dulles (OSS X-2 Mission Chief - Berne) and James Jesus Angleton (OSS X-2 Mission Chief - Caserta) and Jackson's old college chum, J. Russell "Russ" Forgan (OSS London); involved in capture/interrogation of Herr Franz von Papen, former Vice-Chancellor of Nazi Germany about the Nazis National Redoubt and the discovery of the Nazi treasures found at the Merkers, Germany underground mine; prior to that, on 15Feb1945 Jackson was assigned by Secretary Stimson and OSS General Donovan "...for the specific purpose of writing a report on the British Intelligence System (MI-5 and MI-6)"; post-war served President Truman as the second Deputy Director of Central Intelligence at the new CIA (Oct1950 - Aug1951) during the Korean crisis; served Eisenhower as Special Assistant to the President-Psychological Warfare and as National Security Advisor in 1956; retired to Tucson, Arizona where he helped Ludwell Lee Montague write the second official history of the CIA; Jackson died 27Sept1971 in Tucson and was finally interred at his home in Nashville (Mt. Olivet Cemetery).
 
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Legion of Merit - William Harding Jackson (1901-1971)

Then LT. COL. William Harding "Bill" Jackson was awarded the U.S. "Legion of Merit" 17Mar1944 by General Dwight D. Eisenhower under ETOUSA General Order 25 "...for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services as a member of the G-2 Section, Headquarters, ETOUSA, from 1 September 1943 to 31 December 1943. As a result of his sound judgment, creative ability, tactful leadership and outstanding personality, Lieutenant Colonel Jackson organized and developed the unique and valuable service of the Strategic Intelligence Branch of G-2. He established a relationship of mutual confidence between British and American agencies, resulting in complete interchange of vital information." [Note: this is a reference to the exchange of ULTRA information and the transfer of the British SIS thirty-year old counter-intelligence and spy dossier data base to the U.S. under the 17May1943 BRUSA Agreement between the U.K. and America.] "Lieutenant Colonel Jackson introduced a new technique in the preparation of intelligence reports, based on drawing into one pattern all information from available sources, which should prove of enduring value in the advancement of intelligence procedure. His initiative and diligence reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States. By command of General EISENHOWER, signed R. B. Lovett, Brigadier General, USA, Adjutant General."
 
Bronze Star - William Harding Jackson (1901-1971)

On March 15, 1945, Colonel William Harding Jackson was awarded the "Bronze Star Medal", America’s fourth highest individual military award and the ninth highest in order of precedence (including unit awards) for his efforts in the Operation Overlord and Operation Bodyguard planning leading up to D-Day. The citation reads: "...By General Order of Lieutenant General Omar Bradley, the Bronze Star Medal is awarded to “Colonel William H. Jackson (then Lt. Colonel) (Army Serial Number 0-900440) General Staff Corps, United States Army, for meritorious service in connection with military operations during the period 21 February 1944 to 31 July 1944, as Chief of the Intelligence Branch, G-2 Section, Headquarters, Twelfth Army Group. By untiring personal industry and sound judgment, Colonel Jackson selected and trained personnel and welded them into a team capable of efficiently collecting, evaluating and disseminating intelligence data. He directed the preparation of numerous intelligence studies and reports required by the Headquarters in planning operations, and his broad grasp of enemy strategy, tactics and organization were of great value in keeping the Headquarters informed of enemy capabilities and intentions. As the direct result of Colonel Jackson’s judgment and industry in planning and training personnel, the Intelligence Branch of the G-2 Section became a model for the production and dissemination of combat intelligence in this theater of operations. Entered military service from New York. By order of General BRADLEY.” As Chief of the Intelligence Branch, First Army Group (FUSAG), working in close coordination with Brig. Gen. T.J. Betts, SHAEF Deputy G-2 and Maj. Gen. Kenneth W.D. Strong, SHAEF G-2 under Gen. Eisenhower, Colonel Jackson was instrumental in the counter-intelligence/counter-espionage effort to deceive the Nazis prior to D-Day -- called the "greatest military hoax of the war" by General Omar Bradley.
 
French Croix de Guerre - William Harding Jackson (1901-1971)

OSS Colonel Bill Jackson was awarded the French "Croix de Guerre with Palm Medal" by General de Gaulle which reads for the “Campaign for the Liberation of France from June to December, 1944. Decision Number 344. General De Gaulle, President of the Provisional Government of the French Republic cites the order of the Army – Lieutenant Colonel William H Jackson (0900440) USA 12th Army Group, for exceptional war services rendered in the course of operations for the liberation of France. This citation carries with it the attribution of the Croix de Guerre with Palm. Signed: General DeGaulle and by General of the Army, A. Juin, General Chief of Staff of National Defense." It is believed that Jackson was the only American Army officer below the rank of Brigadier General to receive this medal.
 
Belgium Croix de Guerre - William Harding Jackson (1901-1971)

OSS Colonel Bill Jackson was awarded the Belgian "Croix de Guerre with Palm" after the war on 06May1946 which reads: "Croix de Guerre with Palm (Kingdom of Belgium) the Minister of National Defense has the honor to make known to U.S. Army Colonel Jackson, William H. that by order of his Royal Highness the Prince Regent of May 2, 1946 - Number 2265, the Croix de Guerre 1940 with Palm has been awarded to him. “For exceptional services of war rendered to Belgium in the course of the liberation of its territory and of its defense from 1944 to 1945.” Signed: Minister of Defense of Belgium (Petraileur)"
 
William Harding Jackson (1901-1971)

William Harding Jackson (1901-1971).jpg

This is a post-WW-II photograph of U.S. Army/OSS Colonel William Harding Jackson (circa 1950) who served (1950-1951) as Deputy Director of Central Intelligence at CIA under Gen. Walter Bedell Smith (DCI) and Special Adviser to the Director of Central Intelligence (1950-1955). In 1956, Jackson was appointed Special Assistant to the President for Psychological Warfare to replace Nelson Rockefeller, and shortly thereafter, National Security Adviser for President Dwight D. Eisenhower (1956-1957).
 
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William Harding Jackson (1901-1971)

Maj. Gen. Jimmy Doolittle & Col. William H Jackson (8th US Air Force HQ - 01 Mar 1944).jpg

This is a photo (circa 16 June 1945) of Maj. Gen. William J. "Wild Bill" Donovan, Director of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) and US Army Colonel William Harding Jackson, US War Department Chief of Secret Intelligence (and Deputy G-2 of 12th Army Group for General Omar Bradley).
 
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Col. William Harding Jackson (1901-1971) received a second "Legion of Merit Medal" in 1945, signified by one Oak Leaf Cluster attached to the LOM ribbon. Note: The U.S. "Legion of Merit Medal" - America’s sixth highest military honor - is one of only two military service medals (the other being the Congressional Medal of Honor) displayed on a ribbon around the neck, attached at the back.
 
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