Soldier From Jacksonville Killed in Afghanistan

Wakkuna Jackson

Sherman Jackson

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- She was the youngest of three, but her father says she was the strongest.

"Everybody came to Wakkuna in this family if they had a problem. If the computer was going bad, get Wakkuna, if they couldn't spell a word, get Wakkuna," says her father Sherman Jackson.

But on August 19th, her life was cut short, after her platoon's vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb, and then came under fire by Taliban extremists.

Three coalition soldiers were killed, Wakkuna was among them. But her dad says the military life was her passion.

"I didn't try and talk her out of the service, that's what she wanted to do, and me being an ex serviceman she knew the danger of it, and that's why she wanted to go. She said 'Dad if something's going to happen to me its going to happen,'" says Jackson.

A graduate of Stanton Preparatory High School, she was on the honor roll, spoke Spanish, and taught herself to play the guitar.

Her father says she always put others before herself and was a born leader. The family says her name means princess in Hawaiian and that's how they will remember her.

"If Wakkuna was here today and if she had to do this again, she'd do it again, she'd do it again," says her father.

Wakkuna was a member of the 710th Brigade Support Battalion of the 10th Mountain Division. Her unit was conducting combat operations in Kunar Province when they were attacked.

Her father tells us she just found out she was going to be promoted to Sergeant this October.

Wakkuna Jackson was 21-years old.