Jackson, Mark Wayne
Male
Verified Sgt. 1st Class Mark Wayne Jackson, 40, of Glennie, Michigan, was a U.S. Army Special Forces soldier. He died in a hostile incident in Zamboanga, Philippines, on October 2, 2002.
Their Story
Mark Wayne Jackson was a 40-year-old U.S. Army Special Forces soldier from Glennie, Michigan. He served as a sergeant first class with Company A, 2nd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), based at Fort Lewis, Washington.
On October 2, 2002, Jackson was killed in a bomb explosion at a karaoke bar in Zamboanga City, Philippines. The blast, reportedly caused by a grenade, occurred in the Barangay Baliwasan area and was attributed by Philippine authorities to the militant group Abu Sayyaf. Another U.S. soldier was wounded in the attack.
Jackson's death occurred as part of Operation Enduring Freedom – Philippines, a U.S. counterterrorism effort supporting the Philippine military against groups like Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiyah. The operation, distinct from the war in Afghanistan, involved hundreds of U.S. military advisors providing training and intelligence support.
Following the attack, U.S. and Philippine officials condemned the bombing. The incident highlighted the persistent threat of militant violence in the southern Philippines and the risks faced by U.S. personnel deployed in a non-combat advisory role.
Jackson is memorialized on the Global War on Terrorism Memorial in Michigan and in the U.S. Army Special Operations Command's memorial at Fort Bragg. His service is recorded in the Defense Casualty Analysis System.
Explore Further
Sgt. 1st Class Mark Wayne Jackson was killed during Operation Enduring Freedom (2001–2014). The conflict concluded in December 2014. See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.
Among those documented in the same conflict: Andrews, Evander Earl, Edmunds, Jonn Joseph, Stonesifer, Kristofor Tif, Davis, Bryant Leroy.
