Specialist 4 Willie Donald Jones
Willie Donald Jones
Born October 12, 1944 in Dade County Fl.
Willie Donald Jones was the first born of Sarah Lee Jones,
Sarah was married at a young age to Mr. Willie Jones Jr. and had her first child whose name was Willie Donald Jones. The year was 1944. The new experience was all but too much for her and she received a lot of help from little Donald's grandparents. Eventually they took over the responsibility for raising little Willie Donald Jones when he was two years old.
Born October 12, 1944 in Dade County Fl.
Willie Donald Jones was the first born of Sarah Lee Jones,
Sarah was married at a young age to Mr. Willie Jones Jr. and had her first child whose name was Willie Donald Jones. The year was 1944. The new experience was all but too much for her and she received a lot of help from little Donald's grandparents. Eventually they took over the responsibility for raising little Willie Donald Jones when he was two years old.
Growing Up
Willie Donald grew up to be a fine young man and a positive role model for his brothers and sisters that would follow. He was a kind and gentle person who was highly respected for his character. He was well known in the local area as a first rate musician. Donald was highly praised for his skills on the tenor saxophone which he played as a member of the Mays High School marching band. He personally gave music lessons to his brother James J. Kemp in the back of his grandmother's house where there was a makeshift garage that he used as his studio. His brother James would also go on to play the tenor sax for the Mays High School marching band following in the footsteps of his older brother.Willie Donald also played with various bands and musical groups in the South Florida area.
During the era of the Vietnam War Willie Donald and a few of his friends talked about joining the service. Some time later he decided to join the United States Army. He enlisted on Sept. 13, 1965. After finishing basic training he was sent to Vietnam. His tour of duty began on April 26, 1966 with the 173rd Airborne Brigade, and after a brief tour of duty which lasted a little over 9 months he made the ultimate sacrifice for his country. Specialist Four Willie Donald Jones died while in the service of our country as a member of the United States Army on January 10, 1967. He was laid to rest in Richmond Heights, Florida with full military honors.
During the era of the Vietnam War Willie Donald and a few of his friends talked about joining the service. Some time later he decided to join the United States Army. He enlisted on Sept. 13, 1965. After finishing basic training he was sent to Vietnam. His tour of duty began on April 26, 1966 with the 173rd Airborne Brigade, and after a brief tour of duty which lasted a little over 9 months he made the ultimate sacrifice for his country. Specialist Four Willie Donald Jones died while in the service of our country as a member of the United States Army on January 10, 1967. He was laid to rest in Richmond Heights, Florida with full military honors.
I can remember overhearing my brother and his friends talk about joining the service. I remember that it was Robert Davis, Jerome Neal, and Yannie Neal. I most remember the brave bravado of young men who knew nothing of fighting a real war but were ready and eager to learn. Donald was seeing Willie Mae Griffin, his girlfriend at that time.
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"The Veteran and friend who posted the remembrance for Donald is George Paskins."
A Time Of War
I also remember writing and receiving letters from Donald. He would tell me how much it affected him whenever he would lose a friend over there. He mentioned that they would be out in country for a long time, and that they would go crazy enjoying themselves whenever they got a chance to go to town and blow off some steam. In one of his letters he wrote to tell us that he had received a recorded message that the family had sent from the USO, but he would have to wait until he got back to find something to play it on. He always wrote a different style and type of letter to Mom, I guess he did not want to worry her, but he really let me know just how things were affecting him. At times he would apologize for letters that he had started and would have to finish some time later. Once I remember him telling me that he had to go because there were mortar rounds coming into camp. Imagine him apologizing to me when he was going through hell himself.
I once sent him a picture of a soldier that I made from a silk screen print, it was an image of a soldier carrying a bunch of other guys on his shoulders. I thought it was cute, but he wrote back and asked me why was he carrying all those guys. I was in the 12th grade at that time and I remember him writing and telling me about the good times that he would have while back in-country. He said that he had cut all of his hair off and the local people were calling him Buddha. I have fond memories of my oldest brother and I miss his physical presence, but he will always remain in my heart.
I recently discovered three pictures that were taken while he was in Vietnam. I was trying to locate his place on the Vietnam Veterans Wall in Washington DC. It is 14E - Row 6. I found a couple of places on the web that were asking for people to post a remembrance of the veterans. I made a remembrance for my brother and posted his pictures so that anyone looking can find some information about him. The pictures that I found of him were part of a remembrance from someone that was a friend of Donald and had served with him. It was the only remembrance that was posted. After 40 years it was a sad thing to see that only one person had left a remembrance for Donald. Now that will surely change.
The Veteran who posted the remembrance for Donald is George Paskins.
I wish that I could personally thank him for what he did for my brother and our family. May God bless you. I truly thank you.
If you would like to post a remembrance for my brother,
SP4 Willie Donald Jones, you are encouraged to do so.
http://www.thevirtualwall.org/index.cfm?sectionID=110&anClip=222911
I once sent him a picture of a soldier that I made from a silk screen print, it was an image of a soldier carrying a bunch of other guys on his shoulders. I thought it was cute, but he wrote back and asked me why was he carrying all those guys. I was in the 12th grade at that time and I remember him writing and telling me about the good times that he would have while back in-country. He said that he had cut all of his hair off and the local people were calling him Buddha. I have fond memories of my oldest brother and I miss his physical presence, but he will always remain in my heart.
I recently discovered three pictures that were taken while he was in Vietnam. I was trying to locate his place on the Vietnam Veterans Wall in Washington DC. It is 14E - Row 6. I found a couple of places on the web that were asking for people to post a remembrance of the veterans. I made a remembrance for my brother and posted his pictures so that anyone looking can find some information about him. The pictures that I found of him were part of a remembrance from someone that was a friend of Donald and had served with him. It was the only remembrance that was posted. After 40 years it was a sad thing to see that only one person had left a remembrance for Donald. Now that will surely change.
The Veteran who posted the remembrance for Donald is George Paskins.
I wish that I could personally thank him for what he did for my brother and our family. May God bless you. I truly thank you.
If you would like to post a remembrance for my brother,
SP4 Willie Donald Jones, you are encouraged to do so.
http://www.thevirtualwall.org/index.cfm?sectionID=110&anClip=222911