[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 103 (Thursday, July 22, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8583-S8584]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
COLONEL JON M. ``JAKE'' JONES
Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I rise today to honor an exemplary
soldier, a loyal American, a loving father, and a devoted husband. Our
friend and neighbor, Colonel Jon Jones passed away on June 6 after a
courageous battle with brain cancer that he waged on his own terms.
Until the week of his death, Jon lived life to the fullest and did not
allow cancer to define him or to diminish his dream. Rather, he chose
to be a husband, father and soldier until the end. His death has been a
profound loss to his colleagues in the Army, his neighbors, his
friends, and especially to his family. I say to his wife Cynthia, to
his two children Nick and Lena, who are here with us today, our Nation
is grateful for your family's service and sacrifice.
Jon was born and raised in California. His mother was a teacher, and
the influence she had on him was apparent throughout his life. He
attended high school outside of Sacremento, and graduated from Cal
State at Sacramento. He went the extra mile to participate in the ROTC
program at UC-Davis, because his own school had abolished ROTC during
the Vietnam war.
He graduated in 1980 as a distinguished military graduate and was
commissioned as a regular Army military intelligence officer. He met
Cynthia while he was in officers' basic course in Arizona, and they
married in 1981. His career in the Army took Cynthia, Nick, and Lena to
Turkey, Germany, and South Korea; and his last deployment was to Kuwait
and to Iraq.
Jon died two weeks shy of serving 24 years in the U.S. Army and only
12 days from his change of command. For almost 2 years he successfully
led the Army's only deployable echelons-above-corps contingency force
protection military intelligence brigade. The men and women who served
under him, as well as his colleagues and senior officers, testified to
his leadership in a time of war. One soldier called it a privilege to
be under Colonel Jones' command, and described his strength and
leadership as going well beyond what this soldier had seen in any other
military officer.
Throughout the war, in addition to his mission, Jon's focus was on
the health, welfare, and safety of every soldier and civilian who
served with him. When his brigade was deployed for 9 months to support
Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, he succeeded in
that mission and brought every one of his soldiers home.
A month after bringing his brigade home, Jon was diagnosed with an
aggressive brain tumor. He was entitled to retirement, but he chose
instead to stay in the Army. As he told a colleague: ``Quitting was not
an option.'' Another person might have headed for the shore and waited
for his time in comfortable surroundings, but this was not the path for
Jon Jones.
At the time of his diagnosis, he had a battalion preparing to
redeploy to Iraq, and the thought of leaving them went against
everything he stood for. In fact, in the months preceding his death, in
between his own treatments and surgeries, Jon went to Kuwait and Iraq
several times to support and bolster his troops.
Before he passed away, Jon was nominated for the Distinguished
Service Medal, for unparalleled dedication to duty. This citation
states that his accomplishments will have a lasting effect on national
security formulation at the highest levels. Later today, in a room near
this distinguished Chamber, Jon's widow Cynthia will accept this medal
on her husband's behalf.
Jon's commanding generals, some of whom are also with us today,
accepted his decision to stay in the Army and continue in command
throughout his treatments. Perhaps they would have
[[Page S8584]]
encouraged a lesser officer to retire, but Jon was too valuable a
soldier to lose. Unfortunately, the Army, and especially the military
intelligence community, realizes every day how valuable COL Jake Jones
was. Perhaps the words of one of his fellow officers said it best when
he stated:
Jake Jones did more than command a Brigade in war. He
commanded the respect and confidence of his peers, his
superiors, and his soldiers. He had a special aura about
him--a calming presence that bespoke competence and reason.
All of the virtues that made Jon a good soldier also made him a
devoted husband and father. In a career that takes you away from your
family for extended periods of time, he made it home for his children's
birthdays and other special events. The only birthday of Nick's he ever
missed was last year when duty to country called him to stay in Iraq.
He made it home in time for Lena's birthday last year, and only God's
call home kept him from making that commitment this year.
He was driven to be a good example to his children and to make them
proud. This drive contributed to his desire to continue in command even
as he fought his own personal battle with a fierce enemy. Although his
time with Nick and Lena was inexplicably cut short, I know the love he
gave them and the lessons he taught them will shore them up, inspire
them, and comfort them throughout their lifetime.
Mentor, hero, charismatic leader, humble individual, inspiring
commander, confident, patient, steadfast, stalwart, a rock--these are a
few of the descriptions used to communicate the man he was. Jon had the
determination and perseverance to accomplish any task with which he was
presented.
The role in life he cherished the most, after the role of father, was
that of a mentor, whether to his soldiers or to his children. He simply
loved to teach. Having been raised by a mother who was a teacher, he
paid her the greatest compliment a child can give a parent: He followed
in her footsteps. He taught those of us who knew him how much fun it
was to live, and that quitting was not an option.
Jon Jones was a friend of our family, a neighbor, and an inspiration
to all who knew him. His death is our Nation's loss. Rarely does a
soldier so capable and so completely committed step forward to answer
the call to service. And rarely has a family been so blessed to have
such a father and husband.
May it be recorded this day that the people of the United States are
grateful to COL Jon Jones for his years of service in the U.S. Army.
His memory will live on in the hearts and minds of the many who knew
him, admired him, followed him, and loved him.
Thank you, Mr. President.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Louisiana yields the floor.
The Senator from New York is recognized.
Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask to be recognized to speak in
morning business.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator is recognized.
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