Gary Calhoun Jones
Private First Class, U.S. Army

Gary Calhoun Jones was born on 24 March 1943, the son of Jasper Calhoun and Iris Hart Jones.

He entered the U.S. Army on 18 March 1966.

On 9 February 1968, First Lieutenant Gary Calhoun Jones was serving with Company D, 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, in South Vietnam.

On that day, 1LT Jones was Commander of Company D, an infantry unit conducting a combat mission near Lan Trung. His unit made contact with an estimated battalion of Viet Cong occupying an entrenched and heavily fortified bunker complex in a woodline. Following artillery strikes on the enemy, 1LT Jones deployed his troops and led an assault across an open field, which was the only avenue of approach. Nearing the woodline, Company D was subjected to automatic weapons, small arms and rocket fire from the concealed insurgents. 1LT Jones exposed himself to the fusillade as he directed his men to return fire and move to the sparse protection of a nearby berm. He regrouped his troops, positioned them on line, and led a second assault on the Viet Cong. Despite the bullets striking all around him, he pressed the attack. 1LT Jones was mortally wounded while shouting words of encouragement and directing fire on the insurgent fortifications. His inspiring leadership contributed immeasurably to the subsequent defeat of the numerically-superior enemy force. 1LT Jones' extraordinary heroism, at the cost of his life, earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals, Awards, Badges & Tabs

Distinguished Service Cross
Bronze Star Medal (Merit) with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Purple Heart
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Combat Infantryman Badge
Parachutist Badge
Ranger Tab

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Gary C. Jones (0-5328782), First Lieutenant (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company D, 2d Battalion, 27th Infantry, 2d Brigade, 25th Infantry Division. First Lieutenant Jones distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 9 February 1968 as commander of an infantry company conducting a combat mission near Lan Trung. His unit made contact with an estimated battalion of Viet Cong occupying an entrenched and heavily fortified bunker complex in a woodline. Following artillery strikes on the enemy, Lieutenant Jones deployed his troops and led a fierce assault across an open field, which was the only avenue of approach. Nearing the woodline, the company was subjected to withering automatic weapons, small arms and rocket fire from the concealed insurgents. Lieutenant Jones fearlessly exposed himself to the savage fusillade as he directed his men to return fires and move to the sparse protection of a nearby berm. He quickly regrouped his troops, positioned them on line and led a second assault on the Viet Cong. Heedless of a hail of bullets striking all around him, he gallantly pressed the attack. Lieutenant Jones was mortally wounded while shouting words of encouragement and directing devastating fire on the insurgent fortifications. His dauntless and inspiring leadership in close combat contributed immeasurably to the subsequent defeat of the numerically superior enemy force. First Lieutenant Jones' extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

Headquarters, US Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 2001 (May 2, 1968)

Honors

The name Gary C Jones is located on Panel 38E Line 53 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

Burial

First Lieutenant Gary Calhoun Jones is buried at Holly Hill Memorial Park in Fairburn, Fulton County, GA.

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