Ben Tidwell Jones
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Navy
Ben Tidwell Jones served during World War II.
He served in the U.S. Navy from 1931 until 1953.
Source: Submission of information by family member (below):
My father joined the Navy in 1931 and was stationed at NAS Pensacola, FL when War was declared on Japan. He had met and married my mother there in 1940. In 1942, he was transferred to NAS Norfolk, Virginia.
He was assigned to VTB Engineering CASU - 21. This was a Torpedo Bomber Squadron in a Carrier Aircraft Service Unit. He volunteered to go to the Pacific when the USS Essex left Norfolk in 1943, but since he was an instructor, his job there was considered critical and his requests were denied. He did not want to be remembered as someone who did not serve in actual combat. He finally went around his normal chain of command and left Norfolk for the Pacific in late 1944 or early 1945.
He served on both the USS Randolph and the USS Bon Homme Richard in the Pacific. He was involved at the Marianas Islands and the liberation of the Phillipines (Leyte). He was also involved in the bombing of homeland Japan. He spent 8 more years in the Navy after the War before retiring in 1953 at NATTC, Millington, TN.
He was born August 16, 1911 Andrews, NC and died November 30, 1992 Pensacola, FL.
