Pvt. Martin Jones
Wins Purple Heart

   Pvt Martin W. Jones, aged 21, a paratrooper who participated in the Normandy invasion, has returned to duty after spending 15 days in an Army hospital in France.   the word was received by his wife, Ruth from the war department.
   Pvt Jones suffered a knee injury when he jumped on D-Day but participated in the fighting for five days before he was hospitalized.  He is the son of Mr. and Mrs.. George Gordon and a grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Jones.  He is a former student of West Jefferson High school.
   He entered the service on November 4. 1942 and has been overseas since January 1944.
   Pvt Jones was awarded the Purple Heart which his wife who with their daughter resides in Columbus, received after not hearing from him for six weeks.

[Madison Press, Madison, OH, 1944]

Pvt. Martin Jones
Killed In Action

   Paratrooper Martin W. Jones, 21, was killed in action in Holland, Oct 1; his wife, Mrs.. Ruth Jones, 642 W. Town street, Columbus [OH], has-been notified by the War Department/
   Previously wounded in action, June 11, Pvt Jones had returned to active duty just a few weeks before his death.  A native of West Jefferson where he attended West Jefferson High School, he moved to Columbus three years prior to entering service.  While employed as a truck driver at the Franklin Brewery Co. he enlisted in the Army Nov. 4, 1942.  He went overseas early this year.
   Surviving with his wife are his 3-year-old daughter, Daisy Lee; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Gordon; and his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Martin Jones, West Jefferson.

[Madison Press, Madison, OH, November 2, 1944]

(courtesy of Dick West)

Application for head stone or marker and resulting grave marker for Pvt Martin Wayne Jones in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, West Jefferson (Madison County), Ohio

Martin enlisted 6 November 1942 from Madison County, Ohio (ASN 15335250).  He may have immediately volunteered for parachutist duty and thus joined the 508th in Camp Blanding, FL as it was just forming at that time. He became a member of Regiment HQ.

In Normandy he suffered a knee injury on the jump but continued fighting for 5 days before he was hospitalized for 15 days.  When released he rejoined his company and continued fighting until the regiment was relieved in July.

Pvt. Jones, a member of the Regimental Headquarters Company, was killed in action on 1 October 1944, when the regimental command post at Wylerbaan, Holland was hit by German artillery fire.  He was awarded a second Purple Heart and left behind a wife and a 3 year old daughter.