Larry Jackson - Ben Jackson Foundation

In this episode of Feel The Heal, Jay sits down with Navy veteran and Gold Star father Larry Jackson. Larry shares his own military journey, then opens up about the life and service of his son, Ben — an Air Force airman stationed in Japan who tragically passed away in an accident. Larry reflects on Ben’s surprise visit home just weeks before his death, a moment that would later inspire the creation of the Ben Jackson Foundation. Born out of loss, the foundation now helps active-duty enlisted service members afford travel home to reconnect with family — something many can’t do simply because of cost. The conversation centers on service, sacrifice, grief, and purpose — and how Ben’s legacy lives on through a mission that has already helped hundreds of young service members return home for weddings, final goodbyes, reunions, and moments that matter most. It’s a powerful reminder that healing often begins with connection — and that even in tragedy, one life can continue to change countless others.