Emmett David Jones
Emmett "Amos" David Jones was born into the Santee Sioux Tribe in Santee, Nebraska on 5 July 1916. In 1920, his parents moved his family to Sioux, North Dakota where he attended the Flandreau Indian School. At some point between 1920 and 1930, Mr. Jones was given his English name, Emmett.
On 3 January 1942, Mr. Jones followed in the footsteps of his Grandfather and the passage of a Warrior; by enlisting in the United States Marine Corps. Mr. Jones would be just One of over 24,000 Reservation Natives to enlist into the United States Military during World War Two.
Mr. Jones would quickly be put into Company D, 1st Battalion, 22nd Marines upon their organization on 1 June 1942. By July, Company D would be training overseas in Apia, Upolu, Western Samoa. He would continue his training for another year before being transferred to Company L, 3rd Battalion, 22nd Marines.
On 23 January 1944, Company L departed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii with the destination of Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands; arriving there on 31 January 1944. The 22nd Marines remained anchored offshore at Kwajalein during the Amphibious Landings and sailed towards Eniwetok Atoll, Marshall Islands; arriving there on 17 February 1944.
Company L would land on Engebi on 18 February 1944 at 0955 to begin mopping up the few remaining defenders. The 3rd Battalion and the 2nd Seperate Tank Company would reembark aboard their landing crafts and prepare for a second landing on Eniwetok Island.
At 1425 on 18 February 1944, Company L landed on Eniwetok Island and pushed towards the Western end of the island, and by nightfall had reached the Southwest corner of the island. A strong Japanese counterattack occurred on 19 February 1944 at 0910 which reached the 3rd Battalion's Command Post. The Marines were able to repulse the attack and continue to press the attack South along the East Coast of the island. The progress would be slow but the fighting would come to an end on the morning of 20 February 1944.
The last Island to remain in Eniwetok Atoll, Marshall Islands was the more heavily defended Parry Island. The 3rd Battalion, 22nd Marines would land on 22 February 1944 at 1010 when the front line was 300 yards inland, and would form the right wing of the advance South. At 1330 the 3rd Battalion steadily attacked down the lagoon coast, reaching the Southern tip of the island at 1930. By the evening of 22 February 1944, the island was declared secure but the 3rd Battalion would defend against Japanese counterattacks that night and would be withdrawn the following morning.
Having Participated in Three Amphibious Landings in Four Days, Mr. Jones would have resided among the highest Warriors in the Santee Sioux Tribe.
Company L, 3rd Battaliom would arrive at Kwajalein Atoll on 27 February 1944 and would become apart of the Garrison Troops on that island. Mr. Jones would not remain on Kwajalein long as he would develop a serious illness which would cause him to be sent Stateside. Mr. Jones would spend the time from April 1944 until July 1945 in various Hospitals including Guadalcanal, San Diego, San Pedro, and the Great Lakes.
Mr. Jones would be reclassified in August 1945 and be stationed at the Naval Air Station, Astoria, Oregon until being Honorably Discharged on 5 January 1946, as a Corporal; from the United States Marine Corps.
Following the War, Mr. Emmett D. Jones married Mrs. Bernice Holland at St. Mary's School in Springfield, South Dakota in 1953. He would receive his Bachelors of Science Degree from Southern State Teachers College and would teach various subjects at the Flandreau Indian School from 1958 until 1972.
After their retirement, the Jones' moved to Western South Dakota where Mr. Jones served as a Lector and Eucharistic Minister at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church. He also served on the Executive Board for the local Boy Scouts of America Council.
Mr. Emmett David Jones passed away on 11 September 1997, but his Legacy as a Marine and a Santee Sioux Warrior is remembered by his Friends, Family, and his Fellow Marines.
On 3 January 1942, Mr. Jones followed in the footsteps of his Grandfather and the passage of a Warrior; by enlisting in the United States Marine Corps. Mr. Jones would be just One of over 24,000 Reservation Natives to enlist into the United States Military during World War Two.
Mr. Jones would quickly be put into Company D, 1st Battalion, 22nd Marines upon their organization on 1 June 1942. By July, Company D would be training overseas in Apia, Upolu, Western Samoa. He would continue his training for another year before being transferred to Company L, 3rd Battalion, 22nd Marines.
On 23 January 1944, Company L departed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii with the destination of Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands; arriving there on 31 January 1944. The 22nd Marines remained anchored offshore at Kwajalein during the Amphibious Landings and sailed towards Eniwetok Atoll, Marshall Islands; arriving there on 17 February 1944.
Company L would land on Engebi on 18 February 1944 at 0955 to begin mopping up the few remaining defenders. The 3rd Battalion and the 2nd Seperate Tank Company would reembark aboard their landing crafts and prepare for a second landing on Eniwetok Island.
At 1425 on 18 February 1944, Company L landed on Eniwetok Island and pushed towards the Western end of the island, and by nightfall had reached the Southwest corner of the island. A strong Japanese counterattack occurred on 19 February 1944 at 0910 which reached the 3rd Battalion's Command Post. The Marines were able to repulse the attack and continue to press the attack South along the East Coast of the island. The progress would be slow but the fighting would come to an end on the morning of 20 February 1944.
The last Island to remain in Eniwetok Atoll, Marshall Islands was the more heavily defended Parry Island. The 3rd Battalion, 22nd Marines would land on 22 February 1944 at 1010 when the front line was 300 yards inland, and would form the right wing of the advance South. At 1330 the 3rd Battalion steadily attacked down the lagoon coast, reaching the Southern tip of the island at 1930. By the evening of 22 February 1944, the island was declared secure but the 3rd Battalion would defend against Japanese counterattacks that night and would be withdrawn the following morning.
Having Participated in Three Amphibious Landings in Four Days, Mr. Jones would have resided among the highest Warriors in the Santee Sioux Tribe.
Company L, 3rd Battaliom would arrive at Kwajalein Atoll on 27 February 1944 and would become apart of the Garrison Troops on that island. Mr. Jones would not remain on Kwajalein long as he would develop a serious illness which would cause him to be sent Stateside. Mr. Jones would spend the time from April 1944 until July 1945 in various Hospitals including Guadalcanal, San Diego, San Pedro, and the Great Lakes.
Mr. Jones would be reclassified in August 1945 and be stationed at the Naval Air Station, Astoria, Oregon until being Honorably Discharged on 5 January 1946, as a Corporal; from the United States Marine Corps.
Following the War, Mr. Emmett D. Jones married Mrs. Bernice Holland at St. Mary's School in Springfield, South Dakota in 1953. He would receive his Bachelors of Science Degree from Southern State Teachers College and would teach various subjects at the Flandreau Indian School from 1958 until 1972.
After their retirement, the Jones' moved to Western South Dakota where Mr. Jones served as a Lector and Eucharistic Minister at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church. He also served on the Executive Board for the local Boy Scouts of America Council.
Mr. Emmett David Jones passed away on 11 September 1997, but his Legacy as a Marine and a Santee Sioux Warrior is remembered by his Friends, Family, and his Fellow Marines.