For years, Lakeway resident Mike Jackson has worked tirelessly to assist veterans from the nation’s two theatres of war.

Jackson, not one to call attention to himself, was singled out with American Airlines’ Veterans Initiative 2009 Community Citizenship Award at the Skyball in Dallas on Oct. 24.
Jackson never served in the military, but is a civilian-trained helicopter pilot with a strong love of country. He was nominated by Capt. Jim Palmersheim, Director of Veterans Initiatives for American Airlines. Palmersheim also owns a house in Lakeway.
In a word — Jackson was “humbled” by the recognition.
“In 2002, I joined a group of volunteers as sponsor and crew member on the cross country journey to deliver a restored Vietnam era Huey helicopter to the Smithsonian’s American History Museum in Washington D.C.,” Jackson said. “This helicopter, known as America’s Huey 091, is the largest artifact in the Price of Freedom Exhibit in the museum. That’s when I first met Jim Palmersheim.”
In July 2007, Jackson, in conjunction with a group of citizens in Lakeway, formed the Patriot Fund to assist severely wounded soldiers returning from the Global War on Terrorism.
“The focus of this organization was to providing iBot mobility chairs, the most technologically advanced mobility chair,” Jackson said. “It took less than one week to raise the funds for the first chair presented to Army Specialist Eric Jordan of Atlanta, Ga., paralyzed from the chest down when while on patrol in Iraq his truck took a direct IED hit.”
Jackson said that initially, the group only intended to provide one iBot. But the Patriot Fund took off with massive support from the community. To date, in alliance with the America’s Huey Foundation the organization has assisted in providing over 30 veterans with iBot mobility chairs which cost $25,000 each.
The first major event the group organized was the Patriot Fest in November 2007. Jackson presented the idea of hosting a ride for wounded solders to his Schlumberger Cycling team.
“This resulted in a ride for wounded soldiers known as the Independence Ride,” Jackson said. “More than 20 soldiers on hand crank bikes and 400 riders participated.”
Through donations from the ride, several new hand crank bikes were presented to wounded soldiers. On Nov. 14, the third annual event is expected to draw more than 1,000 participants in Wallis, Texas.
This ride received the honor of being recognized as an official training ride for the Multiple Sclerosis Society MS150, the largest ride of its type in the country with 13,000 riders.
Jackson even went to Baghdad, Iraq last April as a volunteer on the largest humanitarian airlift of school supplies in support of Operation Iraqi Children. The mission’s objective was to deliver supplies to the front line troops to distribute to Iraqi school children.
Last May, the Patriot Fund and America’s Huey 091 Foundation hosted the first Price of Freedom Rodeo in Milano at the Lochow Ranch. A host of World Champion Rodeo performers took time out of their busy schedule for a private rodeo for more than 200 soldiers and family members from Ft. Hood and wounded warriors from around the country. The rodeo was followed up by a bass fishing tournament.
It is that level of dedication that singled him out for the award.
“In truth, I was flabbergasted,” Jackson said.
So why did Jackson become so involved with the troops?
“I support the troops — I support those in the services,” Jackson said. “You can say you support the troops, and you can do it monetarily, but I really wanted to get involved and make a tangible difference.”
Jackson said the greatest reward has simply been in the relationships he has made with those in the service — particularly wounded veterans.
And he has no plans of slowing down. On Veterans’ Day, Jackson visited Walter Reed Medical Center as a volunteer on the American Airlines airlift of 100 wounded warriors and family members for three days of fun and entertainment in Las Vegas. Proceeds from shows will be donated to support scholarships for soldiers’ children. And he will continue his effort to coordinate outdoor activities for wounded warriors such as hunting, fishing with plans to host a “Summer Sports Festival” in Lakeway on Lake Travis next year in May during Armed Forces week. Jackson said this sports festival is being planned in conjunction with Lakeway’s Price of Freedom celebration featuring the American Veterans Traveling Tribute Vietnam Wall Memorial.
When not volunteering, he is the principal of Internal Control Systems, a regional electronic security integration firm providing systems and services to educational institutions, hospitals, state and federal facilities including the U.S. Air Force.