He served in the Army in World War I and was wounded in action.
Jackson talked it over with his parents. Or, rather, they told him their opinion of the matter. He had already resolved to enlist, though. He valued their thoughts, but would not change his decision. His father Will—who was technically young enough to enlist himself, but had family responsibilities—agreed with his son’s decision. Will was proud of Jackson. Gertie was by no means ashamed of Jackson’s decision, but still wished he had left well enough alone and waited until if and when he was conscripted. She had already lost one child and couldn’t bear the thought of losing another. Plus, she didn’t really understand what the war was about. She didn’t understand wars at all, for that matter. If mothers had a say, there would be no wars.
On Wednesday, Jan 2nd, 1918, Jackson enlisted in the Army and was assigned to the Infantry. First, though, he underwent a 16-week training program, which took place at Camp Fremont near Palo Alto, around 160 miles south of the Calloway’s Mendocino homestead.
Jackson completed his basic training in early May, and was immediately shipped out. By the end of the month—on May 28, 1918, to be precise—he was injured at the Battle of Cantigny. Ironically, perhaps, this happened to be the first military engagement in which the American forces took part. The 1st Infantry Division, to which Jackson was attached, attacked and captured the up-until-then German-held village in France from which the battle got its name. Private Calloway’s injury was not necessarily life-threatening—provided it was effectively dealt with. It was serious enough, though, that he spent the next six months in a hospital there in France. A malfunctioning cannon had exploded, sending shrapnel into his chest and blowing off the ring and pinky fingers of his right hand.
Jackson was medically cleared to return to his division in November, just before the war was declared over. Germany and its allies had capitulated. The allies had won. Jackson had done his part, although he had only been involved in one battle. One was enough. He received some medals for his involvement, including a Purple Heart for the injuries he received.
Jackson’s loss of two fingers was, from a mathematical standpoint, not an excessive price for him to pay when the actuarial tables are consulted and the other possibilities are considered: the average length of life for an infantryman in the trenches in World War 1 was six weeks. Two fingers in one day were, on balance, not such a bad outcome for him after all.
Gertie would get her son back. Not whole, but whole enough.
Chapter 1 can be read here.
Chapter 2 can be read here.
Chapter 3 can be read here.
Chapter 4 can be read here.
Chapter 5 can be read here.
Chapter 7 can be read here.