Louis Reeder Jones (June 29, 1895 – February 2, 1973) was a highly decorated

major general Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of ...

in the

United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through combi ...

during World War II. He was a recipient of

Navy Cross The Navy Cross is the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps' second-highest military decoration awarded for sailors and marines who distinguish themselves for extraordinary heroism in combat with an armed enemy force. The medal is eq ...

for his service with

23rd Marine Regiment The 23rd Marine Regiment (23rd Marines) is a reserve infantry regiment of the United States Marine Corps. It is headquartered in San Bruno, California and falls under the command of the 4th Marine Division and the Marine Forces Reserve. The re ...

during Saipan and Tinian Campaigns.

Early military career

Louis R. Jones was born on June 29, 1895, in

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, largest city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the List of United States cities by population, sixth-largest city i ...

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...

. He enlisted in the

in 1914 and served as enlisted man until he accepted commission as second lieutenant on July 10, 1917. He was first assigned to the Marine Corps Rifle Range in Winthrop, Maryland and subsequently assigned to the instruction course at the Marine Officers' School at

Port Royal, South Carolina Port Royal is a town on Port Royal Island in Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 14,220 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort metropolitan area. Port Royal is home to Marine Cor ...

. After graduation from the course, Jones was assigned to the 75th Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment. He sailed to

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...

in October 1917 and served in Verdun Sector, where he was wounded by the effects of combat gas in March 1918. After his recovery, Jones was assigned as first lieutenant and platoon leader to the 83rd Company, 1st Battalion, and participated in Battle of Soissons during July 1918. He was decorated with the Silver Star for gallantry in action during this battle. During the following

Battle of Saint-Mihiel The Battle of Saint-Mihiel was a major World War I battle fought from 12–15 September 1918, involving the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) and 110,000 French troops under the command of General John J. Pershing of the United States against ...

in September 1918, Jones was ordered to take over an advanced line near Thiaucourt. He accomplished his mission under constant shell fire and was decorated with his second Silver Star. He was also decorated with ''French Croix de guerre 1914-1918'' by the Government of

. Jones was later appointed commander of 83rd Company and participated in the Battle of Blanc Mont Ridge. He remained in command of the company after the

Armistice of 11 November 1918 The Armistice of 11 November 1918 was the armistice signed at Le Francport near Compiègne that ended fighting on land, sea, and air in World War I between the Entente and their last remaining opponent, Germany. Previous armistices ...

and served during the Allied occupation of the Rhineland. Jones stayed in

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

until April 1919, when he was ordered back to the United States.

World War II

In September 1941, Jones was appointed chief of staff of the

Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island (often abbreviated as MCRD PI) is an military installation located within Port Royal, South Carolina, approximately south of Beaufort, the community that is typically associated with the installation. ...

South Carolina )'' Animis opibusque parati'' ( for, , Latin, Prepared in mind and resources, links=no) , anthem = " Carolina";" South Carolina On My Mind" , Former = Province of South Carolina , seat = Columbia , LargestCity = Charleston , LargestMetro = ...

. He was appointed commanding officer of the newly activated

in September 1942. The 23rd Marines were stationed at

Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton is the major West Coast base of the United States Marine Corps and is one of the largest Marine Corps bases in the United States. It is on the Southern California coast in San Diego County and is bordered by O ...

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...

, before sailed as part of

4th Marine Division The 4th Marine Division is a reserve division in the United States Marine Corps. It was raised in 1943 for service during World War II, and subsequently fought in the Pacific against the Japanese. Deactivated after the war, the division was re-fo ...

for Central Pacific in January 1944. Jones commanded 23rd Marines during

Battle of Kwajalein The Battle of Kwajalein was fought as part of the Pacific campaign of World War II. It took place from 31 January – 3 February 1944, on Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands. Employing the hard-learned lessons of the Battle of Tarawa, the Un ...

in February 1944 and was decorated for his leadership with the Legion of Merit with

Combat "V" Combat ( French for ''fight'') is a purposeful violent conflict meant to physically harm or kill the opposition. Combat may be armed (using weapons) or unarmed ( not using weapons). Combat is sometimes resorted to as a method of self-defense, or ...

. He continued in command of the regiment during the following

Battle of Saipan The Battle of Saipan was a battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II, fought on the island of Saipan in the Mariana Islands from 15 June to 9 July 1944 as part of Operation Forager. It has been referred to as the "Pacific D-Day" with the ...

and

Battle of Tinian The Battle of Tinian was a battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II, fought on the island of Tinian in the Mariana Islands from 24 July until 1 August 1944. The 8,000-man Japanese garrison was eliminated, and the island joined Saipan ...

. Jones distinguished himself again during these battles and was decorated with the

in August 1944. He also received the Navy Presidential Unit Citation. His Navy Cross Citation reads: In September 1944, Jones was succeeded by Colonel Walter W. Wensinger and promoted to the rank of

brigadier general Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...

. He was subsequently transferred to the staff of

1st Marine Division The 1st Marine Division (1st MARDIV) is a Marine division of the United States Marine Corps headquartered at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. It is the ground combat element of the I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF). It is th ...

under the command of Major General

Pedro del Valle Pedro Augusto del Valle (August 28, 1893 – April 28, 1978) was a United States Marine Corps officer who became the first Hispanic to reach the rank of lieutenant general. His military career included service in World War I, Haiti and Nicaragua ...

and appointed assistant division commander. He was assigned to the 1st Marine Division at the time, when it was badly beaten during the

Battle of Peleliu The Battle of Peleliu, codenamed Operation Stalemate II by the US military, was fought between the United States and Japan during the Mariana and Palau Islands campaign of World War II, from September 15 to November 27, 1944, on the island of ...

. He subsequently participated at the task of rebuilding of the 1st Division to effective combat unit. At the end of March 1945, 1st Division was ready to fight again. Jones participated in the following Battle of Okinawa and was decorated with his Legion of Merit and also second Navy Presidential Unit Citation.

Postwar duties

Jones remained with 1st Marine Division after the War and was sent to North China in September 1945. His 1st Division, with Major General Dewitt Peck in command, was tasked with repatriating more than 650,000 Japanese soldiers and civilians still resident in that part of China. They were also tasked with guarding of supply trains, bridges and depots to keep food and coal moving into the cities. Jones also participated in the skirmishes with People's Liberation Army soldiers attacking supply depots. For his service in North China, Jones was decorated with his third Legion of Merit by the army and also received Order of the Cloud and Banner, 4th Class personally from Chiang Kai-shek. Jones subsequently returned to the United States in June 1946 and was appointed president of Marine Corps Equipment Board at Marine Corps Schools at Quantico,

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...

. He retired from this capacity on June 30, 1949. Following his retirement from the Marine Corps, Jones was advanced to the rank of

on the retired list for having been specially commended in combat. Jones died on February 2, 1973, and is buried together with his wife Rhita Wilmer Jones (1893–1984) and their three sons at

Arlington National Cemetery Arlington National Cemetery is one of two national cemeteries run by the United States Army. Nearly 400,000 people are buried in its 639 acres (259 ha) in Arlington, Virginia. There are about 30 funerals conducted on weekdays and 7 held on Sa ...

Decorations

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jones, Louis R. 1895 births 1973 deaths Military personnel from Philadelphia United States Marine Corps personnel of World War I United States Marine Corps World War II generals United States Marines United States Marine Corps generals Recipients of the Navy Cross (United States) Recipients of the Silver Star Recipients of the Legion of Merit Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 (France) Burials at Arlington National Cemetery