Posted by XXXXXX on May 2, 2008:

Thomas T. Jones '48 No. 16510 18 Mar 1924 - 8 Jul 1994 Died in Martinsburg, WV Interred in Emmanuel Cemetery, Middleburg, VA Thomas Tytherleigh Jones was born in Oconee, IL, to William Albert and Jean Callender Jones and grew up in Cerro Gordo, IL. In school, he excelled athletically and academically, graduating second in his class from Cerro Gordo High School and starring on the basketball and football teams. Tom enrolled in the University of Illinois in 1941 and enlisted in the Army. After completing basic training, Tom was selected for the Army Specialized Training Program (ASTP) and sent to Princeton University. Six months later, Tom transferred to the USMA Preparatory School at Amherst College and, one year later, was admitted to USMA. Tom liked being at USMA. Having been an Eagle Scout, he took the honor code very seriously but played the regulations to suit his own purposes. Having no trouble with academics, he had lots of time to devote to other things, including corps squad basketball, track, baseball, camera club, Howitzer staff, pickup games of basketball and tennis, and dragging pro as often as possible. Tom spent four years working on the staff of the Bugle Notes (the last year as its editor), making sure that future generations of plebes would have complete comprehension of the pearls of wisdom stored between its covers. Upon graduation and commission into the Corps of Engineers, Tom spent a year in the Ground General School at Ft. Riley and the Basic Course at Ft. Belvoir. Tom's first troop assignment was to the 8th Engineer Battalion of the 1st Cavalry Division, then stationed in Japan. There, he met, courted, and married an "Army brat," Jerene Garges, whose father, Philip Robison Garges '24 also was an engineer officer. Jerene was Tom's dearest love, with whom he happily spent the rest of his life. The 1st Cavalry went into South Korea immediately after the Korean War began. Tom, as a combat engineer platoon leader and company commander, faced the hazards and challenges of those early months in Korea with skill, courage and the full support of his troops, who recognized in him the talents they needed and respected in those trying times. Tom was captured while leading those men and performing his missions. Undaunted and uncompromising during 21 days while being marched 200 miles northward by his enemies, Tom escaped with another lieutenant and two PFCs just three miles south of the 39th Parallel. They evaded immediate recapture, survived on what they could find to eat in the gardens of abandoned farms, and, after three days, made their way to the forward positions of an allied unit. Tom was awarded the BSMv for his service in Korea and, many years later, when it was authorized, the POW Medal. When Tom was reported "missing in action," Jerry was in Japan and five months pregnant with their son Tom, Jr. For nearly a month, she waited for more news until she joyously learned of his safe return to allied control. Tom was quickly evacuated to Japan, where he recovered from the debilitating effects of the privation that he had endured. He spent the following ten months in Yokohama. In 1951, Tom and Jerene returned to Ft. Leonard Wood, where he trained engineer soldiers, many of whom went immediately to Korea with the lessons Tom imparted from his recent personal experience. In 1953, Tom enrolled at MIT, and earned a master of science in civil engineering a year later. After the Advanced Course, he was Assistant Post Engineer for the Berlin Command. With unfailing patience and enthusiasm, Tom undertook the crumbling infrastructure available to the Berlin Command at that time. Anxious to get back to a troop unit, he wrangled an assignment as CO in the 17th Armored Engineer Battalion. When it became apparent the battalion would gyroscope to Ft. Hood, he was appointed Battalion S-4, and planned and supervised the logistics of the move in July 1957. Tom went to CGSC, following that with three years instructing engineering at USMA. Throughout these busy, happy years, Tom and Jerene were blessed by the arrival of Tommy (in Japan), Andy (in Missouri), Christopher (in Germany) and Ann Cameron (at West Point). Tom went back to Korea for a year as the Resident Engineer for the northern half of South Korea, while Jerry and the kids stayed in Charleston, SC, near her parents. After that, Tom commanded the 19th Engineer Battalion at Ft. Meade, MD, followed by two years in the Office of the Chief of Staff of the Army, writing speeches for GENs H. K. Johnson and C. W. Abrams, Jr. It seemed an unusual assignment, but he was a published writer of many articles in the Military Engineer and Army magazines. Next, he went to the National War College. Tom was assigned back to the Pentagon, working for the Assistant Vice Chief of Staff on worldwide logistics. The family stayed where it had been in Arlington, VA, because all of the kids were active with their schools and extracurricular activities. Tom became heavily involved with management information systems. Upon retirement in 1970, Tom immediately went to work for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and the family relocated to Annandale, VA. In less than three years, Tom was named permanent manager of the Board's Resource Management Staff. Tom was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 1984 and retired from the Federal Reserve. Progress of the disease was slow. Jerry was able to care for Tom at home for more than six years before he had to move to the Veterans Hospital in Martinsburg, WV. She visited him there twice a week for another four years. Tom and Jerry treasured their time together, watching their children mature and start their own families. Tom is buried near Jerry's parents in Middleburg, VA. When Tom was awarded his POW medal, their son Chris said, "My father lives with courage every day. He is once again a prisoner, this time of his own flesh. I am proud and grateful to be able to say that in these most difficult circumstances he is still waging battle with determination, endurance and courage." That is how we all remember him - a bright, happy guy with an irrepressible sense of humor and a deep commitment to his family, his friends and his country. God rest ye, merry gentleman. Jim Barnett '48, and Jerene

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