Friends, sacrifice remembered

BY JOSH MROZINSKI

Wyoming County Press Examiner

TUNKHANNOCK - Sgt. Howard Jones considers himself fortunate.

As Veterans Day is celebrated, the Tunkhannock resident recalls a bullet hitting a radio mounted in a Jeep next to him as he traveled through France with the Army 255^th Field Artillery Battalion.

"You think about how lucky you are to be here," Jones, 86, said. "That's the closet call I ever had."

Remembering danger he experienced while serving in combat, Jones said the sacrifice of soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan should be commemorated and appreciated.

"They are going through hell," Jones said, referring to the soldiers.

When Jones joined the National Guard Battery B 28^th Division in 1940, he didn't think about the danger he would likely face, even though war was raging in Europe.

Friends were joining the military so Jones, who was working as a farm laborer, signed up.

"I was on the verge of being 18 so my dad had to say it was ok," Jones said.

As a member of the National Guard, Jones worked at Fort Indiantown Gap as a carpenter.

In 1943, Jones was called up for active duty and then went through months of training.

 "We weren't just trained for one thing," Jones said. "When you are in the Army, you do what they tell you to do."

Along with learning how to be a radio operator, Jones also learned about combat.

For instance, the Army fired artillery guns to familiarize Jones and other soldiers with the weapon.

In 1944, the 255^th battalion traveled on a ship from New York to England.

Included in the battalion were Wyoming County residents Sgt. George Hadsall, Staff Sgt. Albert Slocum and Staff Sgt. William Moss.

During the 14-day voyage, Jones said he played cards and rested.

The war was distant for Jones, until his battalion crossed the English Channel and landed on Utah Beach in France on Aug. 13, 1944.

"We never knew when we would get shot at," Jones said.

He added that he lived out of a duffle bag as his battalion crossed Europe.

"We were forward observers, we were out in front and sent back locations," Jones said. "It was just one big long day."

The "one big long day" is recorded in a ‘War Diary' now kept by Jones.

Created by a major in Jones' battalion, the diary's last entry was posted May 29-31, 1945.

The entry states that the battalion was at Viechtach, Germany on normal guard duty and roving patrol.

The diary also lists the amount and type of ammunition fired by the battalion, as well as events such as the capture of prisoners of war.

Thousands of rounds of ammunition were fired during combat, which continues to be experienced by Jones today.

Jones said he felt a "shiver" during combat.

He also recalls the camaraderie and friendships he formed with members of his battalion.

While Jones lost friends during the war, Hadsall, Slocum and Moss survived.

"Out of the four from Tunkhannock, I'm the only left, they died after the war," Jones said.

After Jones was discharged in 1945 at 24, he married Ruth Bishop.

Married for 62 years, the couple has three children, four grandchildren and one great grandchild.

The couple met at Camp Croft, S.C., before Jones was deployed to Europe.

They reunited when Jones returned home.

"It was a good feeling," Jones said.