Jim Frazier lived an eventful life as a restaurateur and long-time employee of Safety Kleen, with an active family of five children. His oldest, Jacob (Jake) Frazier, joined the Illinois Air National Guard in 1998, and was assigned to the 169th Air Support Operations Squadron. Jake worked as a Tactical Air Combat Controller and deployed to Afghanistan in early 2003, assigned to a Special Forces A-team working in Helmand Province. In late March Jake was killed while on patrol. Jim talks at length about Jake, about his funeral, and about the struggles that Jim went through following that tragic event.
Interview Links
Feature Excerpt
Saying Goodbye
Abstract
Interview Session 01 (Audio)
Jim’s early life, family and work experiences through the late 1990s
Interview Session 02 (Audio)
Jacob’s Air Force experiences, his death in combat and funeral
Interview Session 03 (Audio)
Jim’s struggles with Jacob’s death, Jim's divorce and a life changing moment
Photos
Caption
The Frazier children, circa 1995, taken while the family lived in Elgin, Illinois. From left to right are Jacob, Jessica and Kathryn, with the twins Daniel and Zachary in the front.
Where:
Elgin, IL
When:
1995
Ownership:
(Narrator’s photo)
Caption
Jake stands between a vehicle and his tent quarters located at the team’s compound in Helmand province in January 2003. Note the watchtower in the background.
Where:
Helmand Province, Afghanistan
When:
January 2003
Ownership:
(Narrator’s photo)
Caption
Jake relaxes on the back of a pickup which is filled with captured unexploded ordinance during one of his unit’s missions. February 2003.
Where:
Afghanistan
When:
February 2003
Ownership:
(Narrator’s photo)
Caption
Jake Frazier early in his deployment to Afghanistan in March 2003.
Where:
Afghanistan
When:
March 2003
Ownership:
(Narrator’s photo)
Caption
Jake and an Afghan interpreter outside the unit’s compound in Helmand Province in March 2003.
Where:
Helmand Province, Afghanistan
When:
March 2003
Ownership:
(Narrator’s photo)
Caption
Members of Jake’s Special Forces ‘A’ team with several Afghan prisoners captured during an operation in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan in March 2003.
Where:
Helmand Province, Afghanistan
When:
March 2003
Ownership:
(Narrator’s photo)
Caption
Jake Frazier in full combat gear while serving in the Helmand province of Afghanistan in March 2003, shortly before his death.
Where:
Helmand Province, Afghanistan
When:
March 2003
Ownership:
(Narrator’s photo)
Caption
The Frazier family solemnly watch as the casket containing Jacob Frazier is carried by the honor guard on April 7, 2003 at St. Charles Catholic Church in Elgin, IL. The photo appeared in the Chicago Tribune.
Where:
St. Charles Catholic Church in Elgin, IL
When:
April 7, 2003
Ownership:
(May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.)
Caption
Brigadier Gen. Steven Huber presented Gold Star father Jim Frazier with a photo of his son, Jake, who was killed in Afghanistan in March 2003. The award was made at a Chicago Rush Arena football game in July 2012. Jim’s wife Carol Ann is also present.
Where:
Rosemont, IL
When:
July 2012
Ownership:
Photo from article by the Illinois National Guard Public Affairs Office. This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Son Zack and Jim spent a quiet moment at Jacob’s grave at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery on Memorial Day 2015. The Cemetery is located near Elwood, Illinois.
Where:
Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery
When:
Memorial Day 2015
Ownership:
(Narrator’s photo)
Caption
Jim Frazier, as he appeared in a suburban Chicago Daily Herald article dated May 25, 2015.
Where:
When:
May 25, 2015
Ownership:
(May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.)