Retired U.S. Army Col. Jack Jacobs—the only still-living Medal of Honor recipient who is Jewish—will be the special guest at a California Military Museum exhibition honoring all 17 Jewish recipients of the nation's highest military award.

The Sacramento exhibit opening Feb. 7 was scheduled to follow on the heels of the current international observances of the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp.

Brig. Gen. Donald Mattson said the state military museum focus on special exhibits, such as
Jewish War Veteran Medal of Honor Recipients, recognizes "our culture and traditions and the bravery of Americans who have kept us a free nation."

Jacobs was awarded the Medal of Honor for his service in Vietnam when, wounded and under fire, he retrieved other wounded soldiers from the field of battle, administered life-saving first-aid to them, and helped to repulse enemy attacks on their position.

The museum collects, preserves, and interprets the history and artifacts of the citizens of the Golden State in all branches of the U.S. armed forces, including the California National Guard, Mattson said.

Located in historic Old Sacramento, the museum maintains and exhibits more than 30,000 artifacts from men and women who served the nation, in displays that tell their personal stories of military life and combat.                        —Donald H. Harrison