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DEL.ICIO.USDavid Randall Jones: A handshake, and always a joke
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sgt. David Randall Jones greeted people with a booming voice and camaraderie that came straight at you.
David Randall Jones“When you saw him coming down the hall, you knew you had a handshake coming â€â€? there was no way around it,” said Capt. William Johnson, assistant jailer at the Richmond County Sheriff’s Department, where Jones worked as a jailer for eight years before his Georgia Army National Guard unit was activated in January.
Jones, 45, who died Saturday in Iraq in a bomb with three other members of the 48th Brigade Combat Team, was a student of history and planned to return to college, earn a master’s degree, and one day become a college history professor, said Sgt. Brent Walker, who worked the B Shift â€â€? 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. â€â€? with Jones at the Richmond County Jail. “He kept up with history and all current events. If something happened and you didn’t know about it, all you had to do was ask him.”
Lt. Sheila Burkes last talked to Jones on July 16 when he called the jail and asked for a care package. “What he really wanted was Crystal Light to flavor the water with,” she said. “And snacks. We were getting together a big package, taking up a collection, but we hadn’t sent it yet.”
What the B shift remembers most about Jones, said Burkes, is that he ended every morning roll call at the jail with the joke of the day. Nobody can remember any of the jokes, just that he told them, and, if nobody else laughed, it didn’t matter, Burkes said. “He did.”
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By Mary
August 3, 2005 07:58 PM | Link to this
It seems so empty to keep repeating ‘I send condolences to the familes of our fallen Heros’ or ‘God be with the families’ and then sending blessings to the surviving Warriors. There is no way to put arms around the survivors at home and in Iraq so words must surfice. I cry and hurt with the loss of each military member but even more when they are our Georgia Warriors - that hits closer to home. I hope the surviving families and friends and the Warriors are somehow consoled. I do pray to God for the safety and well being of all our (USA) military and their families. However, I feel so helpless that I cannot do more than that. For this one soldier to call and ask for so little to make his time in Iraq easier to bear and not live long enough to receive it is very depressing. I am sending another box to my Soldier tomorrow with enough to share. It’s such a small thing to do every week. I hope they find comfort in what we all send in those boxes.
I want to extend my hearfelt sympathy to the families in Ohio for the loss of their Marines (Reservists, too) but I can’t find a blog for them. Maybe as the evening wears on I will find one.
I am sad. I am proud of all our military worldwide but especially in hars’ way and I DO pray to our Lord to protect them and hurry the day we can rejoice in them coming home.
Welove and respect our Warriors.
By BPW
August 4, 2005 01:42 AM | Link to this
Dearest Jones Family, I don’t know what to say except I’m sorry. My God bring you peace is this time of sadness. A Solider’s Mom
By CPT Shawn Dillon
August 4, 2005 01:36 PM | Link to this
The 214th FA BN will never forget SGT Jones. He always had a smile on his face and a kind word to say. He was a friend to us all and will be missed and rembered in our thoughts and prayers. CPT Shawn B. Dillon
By Sonya
August 5, 2005 07:58 AM | Link to this
My husband is with the 48th in Iraq also. We are sorry for your loss. You will be in our prayers. May God give you strength during this time.
By Tricia Lawson
August 5, 2005 10:34 AM | Link to this
But we in it shall be remembered, We few, We happy few, We Band of Brothers, For he today that sheds his blood with me, Shall be my Brother.
Please if Sgt Jones’s parents would contact me, I have some pictures I took of Sgt Jones on 15 May 2005. My son, Sgt Marc Davis is in the 48th. I would like to exchange mail with ANY parent of the 48th. When my son e-mailed to tell me of Sgt Jones Falling, I cied. Please know that I only met him one time, but our love of history and his humor made it seem as if I had known him for years. I live in Texas and there is hardly any news of the 48th, so, Please, I would like to keep in contact with anyone of the 48th. Sgt Jones made me feel as if I had ALWAYS known him. My prayers are with his family. My e-mail is BLBNNT20@aol.com Many thanks, Tricia