Missing information?

Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?

Submit

Personal info

Full name
JONES, Claude Park Jr
Date of birth
1920
Age
unknown
Place of birth
Mississippi
Hometown
Tarrant County, Texas

Military service

Service number
O-386616
Rank
First Lieutenant
Function
unknown
Unit
HQ & HQ Company,
501st Parachute Infantry Regiment,
101st Airborne Division
Awards
Silver Star,
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
22 December 1944
Place of death
Near Neffe, Belgium

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Luxembourg
Plot Row Grave
E 16 53

Immediate family

Members
Claude P. Jones Sr. (father)
Estelle Jones (mother)

More information

1st Lt Claude P. Jones Jr. graduated from Allen Academy and Texas A&M. He attended Texas Wesleyan College and was a brakeman with the railroad before he enlisted at Fort Des Moines, Iowa on 12 June 1942.

He was awarded the Silver Star Medal. The citation cited: On 21 December 1944 during the siege of Bastogne, Belgium, he organized a platoon of thirty men which he placed in a defensive position under heavy enemy fire. Lieutenant Jones personally placed his men in firing positions, procured weapons and blankets for those only partially equipped and visited their positions several times during the night to encourage his men. When the enemy launched a heavy attack, Lt Jones again exposed himself to heavy enemy fire in order to instill in his men confidence and courage. During this action, he was mortally wounded by enemy fire. His skillful leadership, courage and devotion to duty were an inspiration to his men.

He was first buried at the Temporary American Military Cemetery of Grand Failly, France.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / 1940 Census, http://www.ww2-airborne.us
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Luxembourg American Cemetery