Posted by John Swensson on October 23, 2023:

One of the most exciting years and fun years was the year I spent at Command and General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth with Dave Jones as my tablemate. Outrageous, constantly funny, energetic and smart as anyone in our eight person group. He and Patty were an absolute joy to be with. I will always remember when Dave pranked me when I came back from a short trip to West Point just before Christmas Break. Late at night I arrived in the Kansas City Airport and heard a page "Would Ambassador (based on my previous assignment to Zaire) Swensson please call The White House. Then Ralph Locurcio came running up for an interview with a press card in his porkpie hat, then i saw a large sign on the airport wall, "Welcome Home, Mr. Ambassador," and then a table full of cakes. Outrageous humor from the master of the genre--Dave Jones . Another time Susan and I were with Patty and Dave on his large boat in FL and I was driving following Dave's precise directions and the boat bottomed on a sandbar. We both ended up in the river pulling on the boat to no avail. A young woman came by in a ski boat and towed us off the sandbar. Dave always came to class golf and to reunions and for a time ran a large manufacturing facility for Northrup as I recall, here in San Jose. He was a giant,.. a GREAT soldier, and in his battle with Pancreatic cancer he taught us how to live. Patty, you are in our thoughts and prayers. You were and are a great wife to a great soldier and friend. THANKS.

admin