Patch Salutes You: Yorkville Army Specialist Returns Home

In honor of Veterans Day and in support of our troops—past and present—each day this week, Patch would like to give a shout-out to local members of the military

U.S. Army SPC Andrew M. Jackson was born in Aurora on August 4, 1986 and grew up in the Yorkville area. He is the son of Patricia Jackson and Matthew Jackson.

He graduated from Yorkville High School in 2004. In August 2010 he married his wife Jessica Cleveland.

Jackson joined the U.S. Army in 2010 and went to Basic Training at Fort Sill, OK and Advanced Individual Training as an 88M at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. 

He was stationed in Fort Carson, CO.and was deployed to Afghanistan in March of 2012 where he earned a Purple Heart, a Combat Action Badge, an Afghanistan Combat Medal, 2 Army Accommodation Medals, an Army Achievement Medal, and a Good Conduct Medal.

Jackson returned from Afghanistan in October of 2012. He just recently returned to Yorkville after an honorary medical discharge.

On August 5, 2013 Andrew and Jessica welcomed their son, Cooper. They plan on living in the Yorkville area.

Operation Welcome You Home (OWYH) is welcoming SPC Jackson home on Nov. 17.

They will be meeting at Home Depot, 75th & Rt 59, Naperville/ Aurora and then driving to Plano to surprise SPC Jackson at his family home and escort him to a party in his honor at the AmVetsPost 103, 1194 Jericho, Aurora.

Questions about the Welcome Home can be directed to Donna at 630-302-2638.

Welcome home, Andrew!

Also, a shout out to Andrew's brother, Adam! Adam, also from Yorkville, is currently serving as an Illinois National Guard Air force Force Reserve.

Would you like your loved one or friend recognized? Email Natalie Stevens at natalie.stevens@patch.com, with name, age, branch of service, photo, and any other details you'd like included.