Douglas T. Jacobson; Marine Was Hero in Assault on Iwo Jima

Douglas T. Jacobson, 74, a retired U.S. Marine who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his valor in the battle for Iwo Jima during World War II. Born in Rochester, N.Y., Jacobson was a career Marine and served in Korea and Vietnam before retiring as a major in 1969 after 25 years of service. On Feb. 25, 1945, Jacobson assumed the duties of a bazooka man who had been killed and, according to the official commendation, waged a relentless battle against overwhelming forces on Hill 382 on Iwo Jima. Moving steadily forward, he destroyed 16 enemy positions, an anti-aircraft gun and a tank, and killed 75 Japanese soldiers. Jacobson was credited with clearing the way for his division to take a crucial enemy position on the island. On Aug. 20 in North Port, Fla.