UNOFFICIAL COPY AS OF 03/01/13 13 REG. SESS. 13 RS BR 1060

A RESOLUTION adjourning the House of Representatives in loving memory and honor of Sergeant John R. Jones.

With deepest respect and admiration, we pay homage and tribute to Sergeant John R. Jones, and we pause in silent reverence for his soul.

WHEREAS, Sergeant John R. Jones was born in Louisville, Kentucky on February 20, 1949, and traversed these earthly bounds on June, 5, 1971; and

WHEREAS, Sergeant John R. Jones is survived by a brother, James Jones and a sister, Sammie Rider; and

WHEREAS, Sergeant John R. Jones enlisted in the Army in January 1968 and entered basic training at Fort Bliss, Texas before he was sent to the Vietnam War; and

WHEREAS, On June 4, 1971, Sergeant John R. Jones was part of a United States team working with indigenous commandos to defend a radio-relay base, known as Hickory Hill, in Quang Tri Province, South Vietnam. When enemy forces attacked the site, Jones and another serviceman took up a defensive position in a nearby bunker. The following morning, Sergeant Jones was reportedly killed by enemy fire; and

WHEREAS, for nearly two decades, the joint United States-Socialist Republic of Vietnam teams, led by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), investigated unaccounted for United States service members. In 2011, human remains were located in a bunker suspected to be the last known location of Sergeant Jones. Thanks to the scientists from JPAC and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory, the remains of Sergeant John R. Jones were identified and returned to his family giving them much needed closure. He was laid to rest on December 6, 2012, with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery; and

WHEREAS, Sergeant John R. Jones gallantly served his country with honor and distinction; his awards and decorations include the Silver Star, Bronze Star Medal with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with one Bronze Service Star, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge-Basic, Sharpshooter Marksmanship Badge with Auto Rifle and Rifle Bars, Marksman Marksmanship Badge with Machinegun Bar, Special Force Tab, Vietnam Campaign Medal with "60" Device, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Device, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm Device, Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Honor Medal Unit Citation, First Class, and Gold Star Lapel Button; and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Kentucky has the highest respect for Sergeant John R. Jones and is deeply grateful for the ultimate sacrifice he made for the freedom of all Americans; and

WHEREAS, the passing of Sergeant John R. Jones has left a void that cannot be filled, and he is mourned across the length and breadth of the Commonwealth;

NOW, THEREFORE,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky:

âSection 1. The House of Representatives does hereby express its profound sense of sorrow upon the passing of Sergeant John R. Jones and extends to his family and many friends its most heartfelt sympathy.

âSection 2. When the House of Representatives adjourns this day, it does so in loving memory and honor of Sergeant John R. Jones.

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BR106000.100 - 1060 - 5010 Jacketed