CARROLL J. JONES, SR. (1920 - )

A special thanks to Carroll J. Jones, Sr. for providing this information. If you have any comments or have an interest in this family, please contact him.

Carroll Justice JONES was born October 9, 1920 in Columbus, Platte County, Nebraska. His father was Charles Clinton Jones, owner and operator of the JONES Bakery and Confectionary at 2607 12th Street in Columbus. His mother, Carrie Belle (Novell) JONES also worked in the bakery along with his three older brothers. All of the brothers, except Carroll, were taught the baking trade by their father. Carroll's father died when Carroll was four and one-half years old.

Carroll graduated from Kramer High School in Columbus in the Spring of 1939. Graduating in the upper 10% of his class he was elected to the National Honor Society and awarded a state teacher's college scholarship. He attended Peru State Teachers College in Peru, Nebraska 1939 -1941. Returning home in the Spring of 1941 he accepted employment as a dairy route man for Baumer's Dairy.

In the Fall of 1940 Carroll was invited to a party where he met Lois Alma JOHNSON, a young lady whom he had admired at a distance in high school. Lois was born May 5, 1924 in Seward, Seward County, Nebraska. She is the daughter of Glover Jack JOHNSON and Alma Amanda MIERS. Lois graduated from Kramer High School in 1942. They dated as often as he could get home during his last year at Peru. On January 24, 1942 he and Lois were married. They used his week's salary of fifteen dollars to pay the first month's rent on an apartment and money saved in a syrup pitcher to buy the first week's groceries.

At the outbreak of World War II, when the United States became involved, Carroll attempted to enlist in the U.S. Air Corps for navigator training. However, he was rejected for color blindness. He was then drafted into the U.S. Army on July 6, 1942. He was inducted at Fort Crook, Nebraska and sent to the Reception Center at Fort Logan, Colorado for processing. He took his basic training in Company D, 105th Medical Training Battalion at Camp Robinson, Arkansas. Following basic training he was assigned to the 191st Medical Gas Treatment Battalion at Camp Livingston, Louisiana. While there he was assigned to the Dental Clinic as a dental technician.

He applied for and received an appointment to Engineer Officers Candidate School at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia. While undergoing officer training his mother died and he was given a furlough to attend the funeral. This set his training back two weeks. Having had no manual of arms training in the medical corps he failed in leadership and was again set back another two weeks. However, he survived the Special Development Detachment and returned to officer training.

Carroll was honorably discharged from the Army in the rank of Corporal August 3, 1943, Company D, Officer Candidate Regiment, Fort Belvoir, Virginia and awarded a temporary appointment, 4 August 1943 as 2nd Lt., Army of the United States, Corps of Engineers.

After a sojourn at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri he was assigned to the 135th Engineer Combat Battalion, Camp Van Dorn, Mississippi with whom he served in the European Theater of Operations for 14 months from June 1944 to September 1945. He was separated from the service on December 5, 1945 in the grade of First Lieutenant, United States Army Corps of Engineers at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and transferred to reserve duty.

Following his release from active duty Carroll and Lois along with their son moved to Salem, Oregon where Carroll worked at several different occupations. There their second child, a daughter, was born. He was recalled to active duty August 13, 1947 with his first duty station being Okinawa. Lois moved back to Columbus to await an opportunity to join him which she did one year later.

After his Okinawa tour he was assigned to the 712th Engineer Depot Company at Granite City Engineer Depot, Granite City, Illinois. Their third child, a son, was born in Granite City. Carroll served with the 712th in Korea during the Korean War. Having served 16 months in Korea he was transferred to Japan where Lois and the three children joined him. He was promoted to the grade of captain July 18, 1951 and assigned as Assistant Post Engineer at Camp Hakata, Fukuoka, Japan. Their last child, a daughter, was born in the United States Army Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan.

Following his tour in Japan Carroll, in the grade of Captain, was assigned as Commanding Officer to the 589th Engineer Depot Company back to Granite City, Illinois.

Carroll attended the Engineer Officers Advance School in Fort Belvoir, Virginia. While there he visited the Office of the Chief of Army Engineers requesting assignment to Germany. His request was granted and in 1955 he and the family were off to Germany for what was to be three-year tour. Carroll was assigned as Depot Inspector at the Kaiserslautern Engineer Depot in Kaiserslautern for a time and later assistant Operations Officer. He extended his tour an additional six months so as to complete his college education. He graduated in the Spring of 1958 with a B. S. in Military Science from the University of Maryland. The graduation ceremony was held at the University of Heidelberg.

Returning from Germany in May of 1959 he was assigned as Commanding Officer of the Headquarters Company of the 17th Engineer Combat Battalion, 2nd Armored Division, Fort Hood, Texas. He was promoted to Major October 20, 1960 and assigned as Assistant Division Engineer Officer.

In June of 1961 he was sent with his family to Thailand where he served two years with the Joint United States Army Military Assistance Group in Bangkok. During his first year in Thailand he was Engineer Depot advisor to the Thai Army. The second year he was Chief of the Programming Section, G4. Following that tour of duty it was back to Fort Hood where he retired April 30, 1964 in the grade of major.

During his military career Carroll was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Purple Heart and numerous Service Medals with 10 campaign stars. Lois and the children had accompanied him in Okinawa, Japan, Germany and Thailand.

Following retirement from the Army Carroll and his family moved to the vicinity of Los Angeles, California where he found employment as a purchasing agent with Hoffman Electronics in El Monte. After three and one-half years with Hoffman he went to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studio as Purchasing Manager and later became Director of Property. After 15 years with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer he retired in 1985.

From 1962 to 1998 Carroll and Lois were very active in the Methodist Church. Carroll served on or chaired every committee in his local church. Carroll was a member of the California-Pacific Conference for ten years. He served the United Methodist Men as president of the local fellowship, president of the Los Angeles District, president of the California-Pacific Conference and president of the Western Jurisdiction. He also served a term on the General Board of Discipleship and several terms on the United Methodist Men Foundation. He was honored by the Los Angeles District as a Life Member of the United Methodist Men. He earned a membership in the John Wesley Fellowship of the United Methodist Men. He was elected a Director Emeritus of the United Methodist Men Foundation.

Carroll and Lois were blessed with four children: 2 daughters and 2 sons.

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Prepared by:
Carroll J. Jones, Sr.
4895 Galicia Way
Oceanside, CA 92056-5126
760-758-0991
carrolljones@cox.net
April 2003