Kaylee Simons
Elmore Autauga News
At 100 years old, Harry Ural Jackson Jr. has become part of a rapidly shrinking group of living Americans who can still speak firsthand about World War II and the D-Day invasion of Normandy.
On Tuesday afternoon, family members, veterans, residents and community leaders gathered at Greensprings Assisted Living in Prattville to honor Jackson during a Veterans Recognition Ceremony recognizing both his military service and the life he built afterward.
Jackson, a World War II Navy veteran and D-Day survivor, enlisted in the United States Navy on his 18th birthday in 1943. According to family-provided biographical information, he served as a Second Class Sonarman aboard a submarine chaser off the beaches of Normandy and participated in the D-Day landing at Utah Beach on June 6, 1944.
The Normandy invasion remains one of the largest amphibious military operations in history and marked the beginning of the Allied liberation of Nazi-occupied France. While thousands of Allied troops stormed the beaches that morning, Jackson was among the young servicemen supporting the operation from the water.
He later continued serving as a Sonarman in the Asian-Pacific Theater before returning home after the war.
The recognition ceremony was coordinated in part through the Atagi Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution after chapter member Martha Pegues learned about Jackson’s story through his family.
“We like to give Quilts of Valor to veterans, and I happened to come across his son-in-law, Lenny Schaefer, at First Baptist Church in Prattville,” Pegues said. “Mr. Schaefer stated that his father-in-law is a 100-year-old WWII vet who served during the D-Day invasion. The Atagi DAR recognized him with a Quilt of Valor for his service.”
Family members said the event carried special meaning not only because of Jackson’s military service, but because of the community support shown throughout the afternoon.
“My father-in-law and our family were blessed and humbled by the recognition and appreciation demonstrated by the Daughters of the American Revolution, the staff and residents of GreenSprings Assisted Living, the Mayor of Prattville, and several of the neighbors from the Prattville community,” said son-in-law Lenny Schaefer, a fellow veteran.
“We are all awed by the opportunity to visit and speak with a true American hero, a WWII vet and D-Day survivor, who is still articulate and sharp as ever, even at the golden age of 100 years.”
Schaefer also reflected on an unexpected personal connection discovered during the ceremony. According to Schaefer, the patriotic quilt presented to Jackson was handmade by DAR volunteer Betsy Skelton, someone Schaefer previously worked alongside while stationed at Maxwell Air Force Base-Gunter Annex nearly three decades ago.
“Thank you all for this gift of love and honor,” he said.
Jackson’s daughter, Jenny Schaefer, said seeing her father recognized by the community was emotional for their family.
“It was an honor to see my Dad being so honored,” she said.
After returning home from military service, Jackson used the G.I. Bill to continue his education, attending Georgia Tech before later graduating from North Georgia College with a bachelor’s degree in business education.
He would go on to spend 47 years in the banking industry, beginning as a teller before eventually serving as president, chief executive officer and chairman of Peoples Bank in Tallassee.
Friends and family gathered Tuesday said Jackson’s story represents more than a single chapter of military history. Like many veterans from his generation, much of his life was spent quietly building a future after returning home from war.
Jackson was married to his wife, Shirley Chambliss Jackson, for 76 years until her passing in August 2024. Together, they raised nine children, including seven daughters and two sons. Their family now includes 22 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
As the number of surviving World War II veterans continues to decline nationwide, ceremonies like the one held Tuesday have become increasingly meaningful for local communities hoping to preserve living connections to that generation while they still can.
For many in attendance, Tuesday’s event was not simply about looking backward at history, but about recognizing the long and ordinary lives many veterans fought to return home to in the first place.
Jackson said he appreciated both the recognition and the opportunity to spend time with the community during the ceremony.
“I was truly honored to receive the quilt and grateful to the City of Prattville for the thoughtful gifts,” Jackson said. “I sincerely appreciate the recognition and enjoyed being in the spotlight.”
