COLONEL ROBERT E. JONES, (then Major) Infantry, United States Army. A member of the 1st Battalion, 32d Infantry Regiment, distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy of the United Nations in Korea, on 1 December 1950. The 1st Battalion was attacking to the south to join the 1st Marine Division near Hagaru-ri, and advance elements of the motor convoy carrying the wounded to an assembly area were halted by a demolished bridge requiring construction of a by-pass to allow forward movement. At this juncture, several hundred hostile troops opened fire with machine guns and small arms from well-entrenched positions approximately four hundred yards up the mountain side to the right of the road and inflicted heavy casualties. Major Jones immediately organized and led a group of his men up the rugged, snow-covered terrain, despite a blinding snowstorm and heavy fire. Forcing the enemy to withdraw, they succeeded in working their way to the crest of the mountain, where they observed a well-fortified road block further along the withdrawal route. Using hand grenades and rifles, Major Jones led his men in an attack from the flank and rear, eliminating the road block and allowing the motor column to advance. Nearing a bend in the road, the convoy came under fire from a machine gun nest on the left flank. With sustained courage and inspirational leadership, Major Jones formed and led an assault destroying the position. Major Jones’s conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity enabled the wounded-laden convoy to reach the safety of friendly lines. His selfless devotion to duty reflects untold glory on himself and upholds the heroic traditions of the military service.

Colonel Jones a life member resided in Tennessee.