We send heartfelt sympathy & prayers to Nancy, Julie, Alexis, Judy (at the Mary Campbell Center)..and to all the Jones' grand and great-grand children..and to Bill's sisters and families.For over 7 years "Williwaw Bill" and I have exchanged 10-20 page letters. It began 6/2003 when I read the DAV Magazine article about Bill and Andy Petrus ("The Battle of Attu"). My father (Chaplain Jason T. Harbert) served in the 7th Div./17th Reg.from 1940-43. His transfer to FitsimmonsArmy Hospital (Denver) April 1943, may have saved his life. He lost many friends (enlisted, officers, Chaplains)on Attu.In 2000, I taped the PBS documentary "Cradle of Storms," with 1/2 hour of Bill and Andy. They were the "stars" in the 2007 documentary,Red White Black and Blue. I flew to Seattle (from Spokane) to meet Bill ashe was enroute home. Later, I had twovisits with Bill and Nancy in Tavares,FL. Memories that I will always cherish!Bill was a true student: historian, reader, Bibical scholar, church leader, travel expert, gardener, fisherman and chef... even rodeo bull rider and later a crop duster. He had so many interesting tales to tell: high school, farming ("just a South Jersey farm boy"), his high school sweetheart, Bettie and their precious daughter, Judy. After Bettie's death, many more wonderful years with Nancy, her daughters and families. They loved totravel; especially the Eastern U.S., Hawaii and their Cedar Key get-a-way.Bill often wrote "here's a little war story for you"...it might be Attu, Kwajalein, Leyte Island or Okinawa.. and the words would fly, bringing goosebumps to this reader. Always, "the real heroes were those who never came home." Bill had little sayings printed on his writing paper: "When you leave...make sure they know you were there. Bill Jones" "Have you read John 3:3-5 lately? If you ain't, you'd better . Bill Jones" and "The Japanese Memorial on Attu Island will be removed..NOW AND FOREVER. Bill Jones"Bill was so proud of his "2nd military career" with the 114th Infantry, New Jersey National Guard; and retired as Major Jones. He often wrote about his 1st Sgt Russ Nordaby and that he (Bill) was in good hands! He mentioned the unit's museum and library and often sent books. Bill's mission in life was to see that the Japanese Memorial on Engineer Hill, Attu Island (HALLOWED GROUND)was removed. Unimaginable numbers of letters, phone calls and expenses...but he never gave up! Prayers were answered when Jack Jonas, TSgt, USAF (Ret)stepped up "to finish the mission," bringing the computer age,his knowledge and skills and relentless enthusiasm (Project VICtory-Veterans in Coalition). Jack is formulating plans for a U.S. Memorial on Engineer Hill featuring a life-size bronze statue ofMedal of Honor recipient Pvt. Joe P. Martinez, of Ault, CO. (Sculptor: Maxine Schwartz of Greeley, CO). Also proposed..a wall with the names of the 580 fallen servicemen, a remembrance monument to the fallen Attuans (who died as POWs in Japan) and a plaque ...In Remembrance..Major William "Bill" Jones, NJNG (Ret).."Taps" 2305 hours, Sunday, 29 August 2010.**************************************Your legacy lives on within each of us.WE WILL NEVER FORGET YOU, BILL.(from: BILL HARBERT (and 93 yr. old neighbor, DOROTHY WILLIAMS, Spokane, WA. 2 more FOB's..Friends of Bill##imported-begin##BILL HARBERT##imported-end##
