134th Infantry Regiment Website
35th Infantry Division Research Center
"All Hell Can't Stop Us"
|
|
134th Infantry Regiment Website35th Infantry Division Research Center"All Hell Can't Stop Us" |
|
Lewis Brooks Jones, son of Oakley Orlando and Alta (Jones) Jones, was born August 16, 1916 in Cherokee County, South Carolina. He and his wife, Julia Kathleen (Gordon) Jones had 4 children, a son Dean and 3 daughters, Frances, Carolyn Kathleen, and Linda Dianne. He enlisted in the Army March 1, 1944 at Camp Croft, South Carolina. He joined Company D, 134th Infantry Regiment as a Heavy Machine Gunner from the 38th Replacement Battalion September 20, 1944 when the Company was at Essey-les-Nancy, France. He was awarded a Silver Star Medal for gallantry during an enemy counterattack 5 days later in the vicinity of Fossieux, France on September 25, 1944. Pvt Lewis B Jones was killed in action November 14, 1944 by enemy artillery fire while attacking an enemy position in the vicinity of Morhange, France. He is buried at Draytonville Baptist Church Cemetery, Draytonville, South Carolina.
|
Silver Star Medal Citation |
|
Private Lewis B Jones, 34899936, Infantry, United States Army, for gallantry in action in the vicinity of * * * , France on 25 September 1944. During the course of an enemy counterattack, Private Jones, a machine gunner, became separated from his unit. Armed only with a rifle, he took up a position in the path of the advancing Germans and commenced firing with good effect. He killed two Germans and wounded another. An enemy tank advanced to within 100 yards of his position, and Private Jones hit an enemy soldier who exposed himself from the turret. Concussion from enemy mortar and artillery fire rendered him unconscious. When he regained consciousness, Private Jones found himself in the custody of four Germans. As he was being led toward enemy lines, Private Jones convinced two of the Germans that it would be advisable for them to surrender, and led them to his unit. He than returned to the area with other soldiers from his platoon and captured the other two Germans who had taken refuge in a barn. His intrepidity and dauntless fighting spirit in the face of heavy odds reflect the highest credit upon Private Jones' character as a soldier. He was killed in a subsequent action against the enemy. Entered military service from South Carolina. General Orders No. 54, Headquarters 35th Infantry Division, 30 November 1944 |
