Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Medal of Honor recipient Air Force Lt. Col. William A. Jones III
Air Force Lt. Col. William A. Jones III’s damaged cockpit, taken shortly after he landed back at Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Base in Thailand.
Share:
Episode 2717 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about Marine Corps Vietnam Air Force Col. William A. Jones III and his Congressional Medal of Honor award. The featured story comes from The U.S. Department of Defense website and was titled: Medal of Honor Monday: Air Force Col. William A. Jones IIIs. It was submitted by Katie Lange, a writer for DOD News.
Lange, in her story, reported that pain can often cloud your judgment, especially under extreme duress, but not for Air Force Col. William A. Jones III. As a pilot in Vietnam, he remained in control of his charred plane long enough to fly nearly 90 miles to relay information that would help save another pilot’s life. For his valiant effort, despite his many injuries, he earned the Medal of Honor.
Lange added this about Jones, Jones was born May 31, 1922, in Norfolk, Virginia. He grew up in the town of Warsaw before his family moved to Charlottesville at age 7. Jones’ mom was a teacher, his dad was an attorney and his grandfather, the senior William Jones, had been a U.S. representative who authored the bill that granted independence to the Philippines.
Jones finished high school early and went to the University of Virginia, where he graduated at age 19 with a degree in Spanish. From there, he entered the U.S. Military Academy in 1942. At West Point, he was known to be determined, confident and a scholar who competed on the school’s fencing team.
Jones was commissioned into the Army Air Corps in 1945, eventually transitioning to the Air Force when it became its own service in 1947.
Listen to episode 2717 and discover more about Vietnam Vet Air Force Col. William A. Jones III and his Congressional Medal of Honor award.
