William Kenefick Jones (October 23, 1916 – April 15, 1998) was a United States Marine Corps lieutenant general and a highly decorated veteran of three wars, receiving the Navy Cross, the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, and the Purple Heart. He was a battalion commander in World War II; a regimental commander just after the Korean War; and a division commander during the Vietnam War. LtGen Jones' last command was the Fleet Marine Force, Pacific. He served in the Marine Corps for 33 years, retiring from active duty in 1972.
Biography
William Kenefick Jones was born on October 23, 1916, in Joplin, Missouri. He was raised in Kansas City, Missouri, where he graduated from Southwest High School in 1933. In 1936, while in college, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves, attending the Platoon Leaders' Class in San Diego, California, during the summers. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1937 from the University of Kansas.
Early Marine Corps career
Jones was commissioned a Reserve second lieutenant on January 31, 1938; was called to active duty on September 29, 1939. He completed the Reserve Officers' Course at Quantico, Virginia, in November 1939; then joined the 1st Battalion, 6th Marines. He remained with the 1st Battalion for almost six years, including all of World War II. In November 1940, he was integrated into the regular Marine Corps.
In May 1941, he deployed with the 6th Marines for Iceland as part of the 1st Marine Brigade. He returned to the United States in March 1942. In Spring 1942, he was promoted to first lieutenant and, shortly after, to captain.
World War II
In October 1942, he deployed to the Pacific theater with the 1/6. He was a company executive officer (XO) with the 1/6 when he participated in the Battle of Guadalcanal. He then served as a company commander and the 1/6 XO. He was promoted to major in May 1943.
In September 1943, he took command of the 1st Battalion, becoming the youngest commander of a Marine battalion. During the Battle of Tarawa, the 1/6 under the then-Major Jones, "engaged more of the enemy in hand-to-hand combat on Betio than any other unit".
During rehearsals for the Tarawa landing, the 1st Battalion practiced landing from rubber boats, thus earning Jones the title of "Admiral of the Condom Fleet." For the actual landing, 1/6 Marines were carried toward their assigned beach by LCVP landing craft towing their rubber boats. At the reef line, they transferred to the rubber boats and began a 1,000-yard paddle to Green Beach. Once ashore, Jones' Marines began a drive down the island under heavy enemy fire.
He earned a Silver Star and a field promotion to lieutenant colonel for his "gallantry in action" in November 1943 at Tarawa. His citation reads in part: ...he exposed himself to withering shellfire to organize and direct a mortar platoon and elements of his headquarters company in a brilliantly executed counterattack against Japanese troops who had broken through his battalion's lines.
He fought with valor in Battle of Saipan, for which he received the Navy Cross. His citation reads: ...when companies under his command landed out of position on three separate beaches, LtCol. Jones braved heavy enemy mortar, artillery and small-arms fire to proceed from unit to unit and reorganize and direct their disposition in seizing the designated target. Under his competent leadership, the battalion repeatedly turned back Japanese counterattacks during the ensuing two days and, on the night of June 16, bore the brunt of a hostile tank attack in which 24 Japanese tanks were destroyed...
After Tarawa, he fought at Tinian and Okinawa.
1945 to 1952
Jones returned to the States in July 1945 and was assigned to head the Tactics and Techniques Section, of The Basic School. Then from May 1947 until June 1948, he served as the Chief of the Infantry Section, Junior School. He then served briefly in Washington, D.C. During this period, after the war, Jones authored, under the pseudonym "Base Plate McGurk", a series of articles providing advice to young officers. The articles were published in the Marine Corps Gazette, then compiled in a book and published by the Gazette in 1948.
From August 1948 to August 1950 he served in Sweden as assistant naval attaché for air at the American Embassy in Stockholm.
From August 1950 until February 1952, Jones served as head of the Operations Subsection in the G-3 Section, Division of Plans and Policies, Headquarters Marine Corps. In February 1952, he became head of the Operations and Training Branch. He was promoted in rank to colonel in August 1952. From June 1953 to September 1953, he served as assistant G-3 at Headquarters Marine Corps.