Elizabeth Jacobson

Elizabeth Nicole "Liz" Jacobson (March 26, 1984 – September 28, 2005) was a United States Air Force airman who was killed in action in the Iraq War in 2005. A member of the U.S. Air Force Security Forces, she was the first female U.S. airman killed in the line of duty in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and the first Air Force Security Forces member killed in conflict since the Vietnam War.^[1]

Elizabeth Nicole Jacobson
Birth name	Elizabeth Nicole Jacobson
Nickname(s)	"Liz" "Cali"
Born	(1984-03-26)March 26, 1984 Orlando, Florida, U.S.
Died	September 28, 2005(2005-09-28) (aged 21) Safwan, Basra Governorate, Iraq
Buried	Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens, Pompano Beach, Florida, U.S. 26.258624°N 80.125002°W / 26.258624; -80.125002
Allegiance	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Years of service	2003–2005
Rank	Airman first class
Unit	17th Security Forces Squadron 586th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron
Battles / wars	Iraq War †
Awards	Bronze Star Medal Purple Heart Medal Air Force Combat Action Medal National Defense Service Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Air Force Training Ribbon
Website	http://airmanjacobson.com/

Early life and education

Jacobson was born and raised in Florida.^[2] She resided in the Riviera Beach area and attended Palm Beach Gardens and Gold Coast high schools.^[3]

Career

Jacobson (2005)

Jacobson enlisted in 2003, and completed basic military and security forces training in Texas in 2004.

On September 28, 2005, while Jacobson was guarding a convoy originating from Camp Bucca, Iraq, the vehicle she was riding in was hit by an improvised explosive device near the Iraqi town of Safwan. The explosion killed her and U.S. Army sergeant Steve Morin Jr., 34 years old, from Arlington, Texas.^[4] A third soldier who was manning the vehicle's turret weapon was injured but survived the attack.

At the time of her death, she was assigned to the 17th Security Forces Squadron ^[5] at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas^[6] and deployed to Iraq as part of the 586th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron. Jacobson had been in the Air Force for two years and was deployed to Iraq for more than three months.

Jacobson is buried at the Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens in Pompano Beach, Florida.^[7]

Legacy

The U.S. Air Force has established the Elizabeth N. Jacobson Award for Expeditionary Excellence which is given to airmen for outstanding performance during a deployment.^[8] A street on Ali Al Salem Air Base running from entry control point "Echo 4" to the Republic of Korea Air Force (South Korean Air Force) compound was renamed "Jacobson Avenue" in her honor.^[9] Goodfellow Air Force Base renamed the base main gate Jacobson Gate.^[10] The Eagle Chapter of the Air Force Security Police Association created a challenge coin to honor Jacobson.^[11] At Lackland Air Force Base, there is the Jacobson Training Complex for Security Forces members. The library located inside the facility has numerous mementos from Jacobson. The base museum also holds her in a position of honor. The Travis Air Force Base First Term Airman's Center is named after Jacobson.

Assignments

1. 2003 – 2004, 17th Training Wing, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas
2. 2004 – 2005, 17th Security Forces Squadron, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas
3. 2005 – 2005, Camp Bucca, Iraq

Awards and decorations

Personal decorations Bronze Star Medal Purple Heart Air Force Achievement Medal Air Force Combat Action Medal Unit Awards Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Campaign and service medals National Defense Service Medal Iraq Campaign Medal with one bronze Service star Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Service, training, and marksmanship awards Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold frame Air Force Training Ribbon

Other accoutrements Force Protection Badge United States Air Force Security Forces Shield