[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 16613-16614]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     HONORING THE LIFE OF U.S. ARMY SERGEANT (SGT) JACOB DAN DONES

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TRENT KELLY

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 25, 2017

  Mr. KELLY of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in memory of U.S. 
Army Sergeant (SGT) Jacob Dan Dones who died while defending our great 
nation on October 20, 2005, during Operation Iraqi Freedom. SGT Dones 
was killed when his forward operating base was attacked by enemy forces 
using indirect fire in Hit, Iraq. SGT Dones was assigned to the 2nd 
Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Irwin, California that 
was task organized under the 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team, Tupelo, 
Mississippi.
  According to the Associated Press, SGT Dones was born March 5, 1984, 
in Dimmitt, Texas. SGT Dones enlisted in the U.S. Army shortly after 
his graduation from Dimmitt High School in 2002.
  SGT Dones was remembered by many who knew him on a memorial website. 
Elizabeth Nunez of San Diego, California wrote a tribute in his honor. 
``I served with Jacob for a few days while I was on election duty in 
Hit, Iraq.

[[Page 16614]]

He was one of the soldiers providing security for the elections and I 
was one of four female Marines there to search female Iraqis who came 
to vote. He was a great guy and kept all of us laughing and helped us 
to not be afraid. I still cry when I think about him and what a shining 
light he was to all of us on the election team.''
  A funeral service was held at the Immaculate Conception Catholic 
Church located in SGT Dones' hometown. Following the service, SGT Dones 
was laid to rest at Castro Memorial Gardens in Dimmitt, Texas.
  SGT Dones is survived by his parents, Danny Dones and Rosa Dones; his 
fiancee, Mindy LeAnn Gonzales; his daughter, Alyssa Monique Gonzales; 
his two brothers, Daniel Dones and Jason James Dones; his two sisters, 
Jessica Ramirez and Priscilla Rojas; his paternal grandparents, George 
Dones and Maria Estella Layva; and his maternal grandmother, Guadalupe 
Ramirez.
  SGT Dones was the recipient of the following awards: the Bronze Star, 
the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on 
Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service 
Medal, the Army Service Ribbon and the Combat Infantryman's Badge 
(CIB). He was an Expert Infantry Rifleman (EIR).
  SGT Dones demonstrated courage and bravery protecting the freedoms we 
all enjoy. His service and sacrifice for America will not be forgotten.

                          ____________________