A Waldron high school graduate with deployments to Romania and Iraq will be the featured speaker at Shelby County Memorial Day Services Monday.

Chaplain Simon Jackson grew up in Shelby County. From his 2005 graduation from Waldron, he went on to Morehead State University in Morehead, Kentucky, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Interpersonal and Organizational Divinity with an emphasis in Biblical counseling from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2013. He is currently in the dissertation phase of a Doctor of Ministry degree at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary where he is researching the Army Chaplain’s role in Suicide Prevention.

Chaplain Jackson was initially commissioned through Army ROTC in May of 2009 as an infantry officer serving in the Indiana and Texas national guards from 2009-2016. He served as a platoon leader, Executive Officer S3, before commissioning as a chaplain in the Texas Army National Guard in 2014. He served as the chaplain for the 197 Special Troops Support Company from 2014-2016.

Jackson is endorsed by the Southern Baptist Convention and entered active duty as a chaplain at Fort Bliss, Texas, in July of 2016.

Chaplain Jackson’s active duty assignments include:

• Battalion Chaplain, Special Troops Battalion, 1^st Armored Division, Fort Bliss
• Brigade Chaplain, 1^st Armored Division Sustainment Brigade, Fort Bliss
• Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 1^st Armored Division, Fort Bliss
• 1-8 Infantry Regiment, Fort Carlson

Chaplain Jackson’s awards and decorations include:

• The Order of Saint Martin of Tours, Army Commendation Medal (C device)
• Army Commendation Medal (5OLC)
• Army Achievement Medal
• Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal
• National Defense Service Medal
• Afghanistan Campaign Medal
• Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
• Armed Forces Service Medal
• Army Service Ribbon
• NATO Medal (2OLC)
• Parachutist Badge
• Air Assault Badge
• German Armed Forces Badge for Military Proficiency

Chaplain Jackson and his wife, Kristen, have two children, ages three and one. They currently reside in Fort Carson, Colorado. They will PCS to Fort Jackson, South Carolina, this summer.

Monday's Memorial Day services from the Shelby County Courthouse can be heard live on GIANT fm (96.5, 106.3, AM 1520, giant.fm and GIANT fm app) beginning at 10:45 a.m.

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