Sgt Dennis D. Jones Biography

Sergeant Dennis D. Jones

World War II

US Army
Battery A, 168th Field Artillery
Service Number: 20840165
Born: November 18, 1921
Joined the Colorado National Guard in 1940
Called to active duty February 23, 1941
Died of wounds February 7, 1945 on Luzon, Philippines
Buried: St. Catherine's Cemetery, Indianola, Nebraska

Purple Heart

Son of Mr. and Mrs. Dommonie H. Jones, Henry Rt. Akron.

St. Catherine's Cemetery Marker

December 3, 1942 The Akron News-Reporter

Dennis Jones, who is stationed at Camp Roberts, Cal. now has the rank of Sergeant in the U.S. Army, according to a letter received recently by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. D.H. Jones of Akron.

Sergeant Jones received his promotion on November 17 and since this birthday is November 18, he thought it "must have been a birthday present." He is instructing the new men in the use of the big guns of the field artillery and likes his work fine.

His address is Bat. A, 168th Field Art., Camp Roberts, Cal., East Garrison.

Thursday March 8, 1945 The Akron News-Reporter

Word was received in Akron Monday that Sgt. Dennis D. Jones had been killed on Luzon, P.I. Dennis was the son of Mr. and Mrs. D.H. Jones, who resided southeast of Akron until about two weeks ago, when they moved to Brighton, Colorado.

Date not known, McCook Daily Gazette, (Nebraska)

Ex-Indianola War Vet Rites to be Monday

Indianola (Special) -- Funeral services for the late Dennis D. Jones, whose body is being returned from the Philippine Islands where he was killed Feb 7, 1945, will be held at 9 a.m. Monday in St. Catherine's Catholic Church here.

The Indianola youth, who was killed in battle, will be attended by the Indianola American Legion's guard of honor. Pallbearers will be Roy Kisling, Jerry Uerling, Ray Vontz, Frederick Karp, Lyle Bergen and Clifford Vontz.

Burial will be in St. Catherine's Cemetery, here under the direction of Herrmann's Funeral Home, McCook.

The son of Mr. and Mrs. Dommonie Jones, the late Sgt. Jones was born in Indianola Nov. 18, 1921. In addition to his parents, who reside in Derby, Colo., the soldier is survived by five brothers, all of Derby, Roger, Dale, James, Harold and Jerry; one sister, Mrs. Jane Guertner of Steamboat Springs, Colo.; maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Stevens of Indianola, and a paternal grandparent, Ruby Jones, Indianola.

The body of the soldier will arrive here on the train early Monday.

Service Notes:

Dennis D. Jones joined the Colorado National Guard in early 1940 at Fort Collins when he was 18. He was assigned to the Guards 168th Field Artillery.
Promoted to Corporal November 13, 1941 at Camp Forrest, Tennessee.
Promoted to Sergeant November 11, 1942 at Camp Roberts, California.
68th FA was shipped to New Guinea sometime in early 1944.
68th FA was sent into the battle for Luzon late 1944 or early 1945.
Dennis was shot February 7, 1945 on Luzon by a Japanese sniper and died of his wounds in the 92nd Evacuation Hospital.
Buried at Santa Barbara US Forces Cemetery #1, Row 10, Grave 525, on Luzon. (About 135 miles north of Manila.)
Sgt Jones was awarded the Purple Heart April 18, 1945 (posthumously.)
After the war, Sergeant Dennis Jones remains were returned home and buried in the Jones family plot in the St. Catherine's Catholic Cemetery, Indianola, Nebraska.

Service notes and Dennis Jones' photograph provided by Lois Jones Guertner.