[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Pages 16969-16970]
[From the U.S. 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

[[Page 16970]]

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 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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