Derice O. Jones

Company B 1st Battalion 22nd Infantry

4th Infantry Division

KIA 02/09/1945

Derice O'Keith Jones was born in Greene County, Tennessee on July 21, 1919.

He was drafted into the Army on January 21, 1942 at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. His home of residence was listed
as Greene County, Tennessee and his civilian occupation was listed as Farm Hands, General Farms.
He had completed grammar school and was single with no dependents. His religion was listed
as Protestant.

He was awarded the Good Conduct Medal in Headquarters 22nd Infantry Motorized General Orders No. 5,
dated June 8, 1943 at Fort Dix, New Jersey.

He was wounded in action on June 23, 1944 and returned to duty on November 12, 1944.

He was a non-battle casualty on November 18, 1944 and returned to duty on December 2, 1944.

Private First Class Jones was killed in action in Germany, on February 9, 1945, during the battle
for the city of Prüm.

The Greeneville Sun, April 10, 1945

Pfc. Derice O. Jones was killed in action, somewhere in Germany on February 9. His parents, Mr. and
Mrs. Robert R. Jones, Greeneville, Rt. 3, have received the following letter from his Chaplain.

“The Officers and Enlisted men of the 22nd Infantry Regiment, join me in the regret that we must
extend to you our sincerest sympathy on the death of your son, Pvt. First Class Derice O. Jones. Your
boy was a part of our “Famous Fourth Division”, as he was a part of your home and we shall miss him
even as you yourself will miss him. Your son was killed in action, somewhere in Germany on February 9,
1945. He now lies buried in an American Military Cemetery in Belgium. Appropriate burial services were
conducted for him by a Protestant Army Chaplain. As a soldier, your boy bravely fought and bravely
died, to stamp out the threat of slavery which hangs over the world today. As a member of our great
Allies Armies, he brougt liberation, new hope and new life to Nations that have been insulted, robbed,
tortured, defiled and enslaved by their conquerors. With such courage and strength in his heart he
walked humbly with his God, and was therefore worthy to conquer. Almighty God has received your son’s
Supreme Sacrifice. It is, therefore, with the utmost confidence that we offer to God this fervent
prayer for your boy. May the angels receive him at his coming and lead him into Paradise where he may
have rest everlasting.As we pray for you and your son, we, the buddies of your boy, ask a rememberance
in your prayers for those of us who still fight on.”
With deepest sympathy,
Chaplain (1st Lt.) Gerald J. Rabe

From the East Tennessee Veterans Memorial Association website

Decorations of Derice O. Jones

Derice O. Jones was buried in the temporary U.S. Military Cemetery,
Foy Cemetery, Bastogne, Belgium and some time later his remains
were returned to the United States where he was
reinterred in Tennessee.

Burial:
Mount Tabor UMC Cemetery
Camp Creek
Greene County
Tennessee

Grave marker for Derice O. Jones

Photo by Judy Green from the Find A Grave website

Grave monument for the Jones family - Derice O. Jones is in the middle

Photo by Judy Green from the Find A Grave website

Top photo of Derice O. Jones from the East Tennessee Veterans Memorial Association website

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