W D Jones

Ancestors

Descendants

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Biography

Tech 5 W D Jones served in the United States Army in World War II
Service started: 23 Aug 1943
Unit(s): ^{[citation needed]}
Service ended: 29 Oct 1945

Early Life

W D was born 23 Jan 1924 to Clay Jones and Mary Cook in Mount Vernon, Arkansas. ^{[1] [2] [3]} When he was born his father was a general farmer and his mother took care of the household and once he was born she took care of him as well. He lived his entire childhood and as a young adult in Mount Vernon Arkansas. W D, was the oldest of all of his siblings and I am sure that his early life included helping take care of his brothers and sister to be able to both help his mother and his father on the farm. At the age of fifteen his youngest brother, and last sibling was born. At this age, and in the time, and life on a farm was not an easy life but could have been a very rewarding one. ^{[3] [1] [2]}

Military

WWII Army Tech 5 Insignia

On 23 Aug 1943 he began his enlistment in the Army at the age of nineteen. He served for just over two years during World War II and was separated at the rank of Tech 5, on 29 Oct 1945 at the age of twenty-one. ^{[4] [5] [citation needed]}

WD Jones WWII Memorial

Family

W D married Veneta Allen, from Tyler, Texas, on 30 Jul 1948 in Mount Vernon, Faulkner County, Arkansas at the age of twenty-four. ^[6] Less than a year after they were married his wife gave birth to their first child, a son, named Waymon Jones, on 2 Jul 1949. ^[7] When Wayman grew up he followed in his father's footsteps and served his county. However he did not serve in the Army like is father. Wayman served his country, during, Vietnam, while serving in the Marine Corps. Three years later she gave birth to their only daughter, Monna (Jones) Johnson on 28 Sep 1952.^{[citation needed]} Finally my father, Rodney Jones Sr, was born on 31 Jan 1955. ^[8] Rodney also served in the military as well, however, he did not follow his father or his brother and he served in the Navy for over twenty years. ^[9] My grandparents lives together began in Arkansas. ^[6] During their marriage they migrated from Arkansas to Kentucky, ^[8] and then back to Arkansas again, where they lived the rest of their lives together, until his death. ^[4]

Death and Legacy

W D passed away on 4 May 1992 in Conway Arkansas, ^[4] his son Rodney Jones Sr had been previously notified of his father's deteriorating state and he was granted emergency leave. However, while he was in transit from the ship he was stationed on to Arkansas, his father passed away. ^[10] The rest of his immediate family was unable to make the trip from South Carolina to Arkansas. I never have asked my mother, Susan (Figg) Jones, why we did not make the trip, but there are somethings that you just do not ask. ^[11] W D is buried at Crestlawn Memorial Cemetary, in Conway, Arkansas. ^[4]

Crestlawn Memorial Cemetary

I remember the summers, that we took the drive to Arkansas, and spending time with both my grandfather and grandmother. I am not sure what pictures I still have lying around, since the hurricane here in North Carolina, but I cannot remember every room of the house. I do remember the house, the land, the garage, his truck, their van and even their camper. I remember that my grandfather liked to play a game where he would grab one of our arms and not let go until we said Calf Rope. He was a rather tall man and had very large hands from working with metal most of his life. I even remember that my uncle, Minor Allen, lived on the property right next to my grandparents. Minor Allen is my grandmother's younger brother. ^[11]

Historical Context

At the start of the WWII, there was massive expansion being done and is was quickly realized that technical expertise was needed, and primarily in the Army Air Corps. In the lack of time they had to implement this course of action; they picked various individuals from various grades aand they were given chevrons marked with a T in addition to the stripes currently on their insignia. A technician would rank just below a Non Commissioned Officer (NCO) of the same grade and above NCO of a lesser grade and technicians did not serve in a leadership role. The increase in technicians was the cause of an inflation of the NCO ranks during WWII. In 1948, the army decided to drop the T and when they did the technicians were able to keep their rank. To recognize the the combat leader NCOs from the technicians, the insignia were made of two tones, different of that of the technical NCOs. This caused the moral to drop because of the influx of NCOs causing the structure to become what is known as, top heavy. There were not enough soldiers for the aount of NCOs. This also caused the combat NCOs morale to drop as well because they felt that they had earned their stripes in Combat. ^[12]

Combat Corporal

Non Combat Corporal

Time Line

23 Jan 1924: W D was born. ^[2]

1 Jul 1926: W D's sister, Zelda (Jones) Ward, was born. ^[13]

20 Nov 1930: W D's sister, Betty (Jones) Nash, was born. ^[14]

22 Apr 1933: W D's sister, Dorothy (Jones) Rigdon, was born. ^[15]

1937: W D's sister, Rebecca Jones, was born 24 Sep 1936. ^[16]

4 Dec 1939: W D's brother, Orlan Jones, was born. ^[17]

23 Aug 1943 to 29 Oct 1945: W D served in the Army, during World War II. ^[5]

30 Jul 1948: W D was married to Veneta (Allen) Jones in Faulkner, AR. ^[6]

2 Jul 1949: W D's first son, Waymon Jones, was born. ^[18]

28 Sep 1952: W D's only daughter, Monna (Jones) Johnson, was born. ^[19]

31 Jan 1955: W D's son, Rodney Jones Sr, my father, was born. ^[8]

4 May 1992: W D passed away in Conway Arkansas. ^[4]

Links

• United States Army
• World War II Veterans
• WWII Live
• Our Missing: WW II
• National WW II Memorial
• History: WW II
• The National WW II Museum
• WW II National Archives
• WW II and Popular Culture
• If Facebook Existed During WW II

Research Notes

• Still trying to locate a source for his military unit(s). ( Spoke to my Uncle Waymon Jones and he is going to send me the military records, he has of his father's, as soon as he gets back into town.)
• Still looking for a source for Monna (Jones) Johnson record of birth (living). I will try calling her soon, just have been busy and when I think about it, well it is too late to respectfully call someone.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} "1940 United States Federal Census", database online. Arkansas, Faulkner, Mountain, 23-25, Household 33, Rented Home
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} "U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007", database online. 432340323, W D Jones
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} "1930 United States Federal Census", database online. Arkansas, Faulkner, Mountain, District 0024, Dwelling 54 Family 58
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4} "U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current", database online. W.D. Jones
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} "U.S., Department Of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010", database online. Branch Army, SSN, 432340323, W. Jones
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2} "Arkansas, County Marriages Index, 1837-1957", database online. FHL Film Number, 1976425
7. ↑ Waymon Jones. Personal Recollection, 22 May 2019, as told to Rodney Jones Sr via the phone. His birthday and W D Jones is his father.
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2} "Kentucky, Birth Index, 1911-1999, 1955, Volume 022, Certificate Number, 10727, Rodney J Jones
9. ↑ Rodney Jones Sr. Personal recollection, 23 May 2019.
10. ↑ Rodney Jones Sr. Personal Recollection. as told to Rodney Jones Jr. over many different occasions as father and son.
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1} Rodney Jones Jr. Personal Recollection. 21 May 2019
12. ↑ NCO History. "[1]." The NCO Historical Society. Accessed 23 May 2019
13. ↑ "Arkansas, County Marriages Index, 1837-1957", database online. County Faulkner, Event Marriage, FHL Film Number 1976424
14. ↑ "Arkansas, County Marriages Index, 1837-1957", database online. Marriage County Faulkner, Event Type Marriage, FHL Film File Number 1976425
15. ↑ "Arkansas, County Marriages Index, 1837-1957", database online. Marriage County White, Event Type Marriage, FHL Film Number 2231325
16. ↑ "U.S., Public Record Index, 1950-1993, Volume 1", database online. Name: Rebecca C Garrison, Birth Date: 24 Sep 1936, Bella Vista Arkansas, 1994, Greenland Arkansas, 1996
17. ↑ "U.S., Cemetery and Funeral Home Collection, 1847-Current", database online. Death Date Abt 2016, Source Title, Legacy Funeral's, Source Location USA, Orlan C Jones
18. ↑ "U.S. Public Records Index, 1950-1933, Volume 1", database online. Waymon D Jones
19. ↑ "U.S. Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 2", database online. Name Monna L Johnson