JONES WILLIAM B

CPT William B. Jones was a potential VHPA member who died after his tour in Vietnam on 07/21/2009 at the age of 62.8 (Exact date not known.)
Viola, ID
Flight Classes 68-507 and 68-7
Date of Birth 10/04/1946
Served in the U.S. Army
This information was provided by Returned invoice

More detail on this person: William B. Jones, 62, Viola William B. Jones, beloved husband of Judy Parrish-Jones, died Tuesday, July 21, 2009. Will was born in October, 1946, to John and Ellen Jones in Merced, Calif. In high school, he was the California state wrestling champion in his weight class. In 1967, he enlisted in the Army and trained as a helicopter mechanic and then helicopter pilot, and was assigned to Vietnam. In Vietnam, he flew light observation helicopters. He was shot down three times, and the third time barely escaped with his life after suffering severe burns over his head, arms and shoulders getting out of the helicopter and trying to rescue his gunner. After a year of recovery, Will returned to full duty in the Army, serving in Korea and at Fort Carson, Colo., before retiring as a captain in 1975. He was briefly married and had a son, who tragically died of SIDS. He stayed in the Colorado Springs area, with stints as a farrier and ranch foreman, EMS pilot and charter pilot he also flew off tuna boats as a fish spotter in Africa, South America, Alaska and New Zealand. In 1990, he moved to Cheney, Wash., to be closer to airlines serving his work site in Alaska. While working in Alaska as a charter helicopter pilot, he met Judy, and after a long courtship, he moved to Tucson, Ariz., where she was teaching at the University of Arizona. They were married in 1996. In a twist of fate, they moved back to the Palouse in 2003 when Judy was hired for an administrative position at the University of Idaho. By that time, he had given up flying because of failing health as a result of damage to his lungs when he was burned. Will was a lifelong horseman, collector of firearms, fisherman, hunter and true hero. Some of his exploits and his near-fatal crash are described in a book, "Low-Level Hell," by Hugh Mills. Will's call sign was Darkhorse 18. In addition to the Purple Heart, he was awarded a Silver Star and a Bronze Star for valor on the battlefield and earned numerous Distinguished Flying Crosses and sharpshooting medals. He is survived by his wife, Judy a brother, Jim of Saudi Arabia cousins and uncles loving in-laws and many friends, especially his good friends George and Ray. He will be buried with full military honors in the Fort Lyons National Cemetery, Las Animas, Colo.

Burial information: Fort Lyons National Cemetery, Las Animas, CO

This information was last updated 01/14/2019

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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024


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