Robert Jones, United States Navy: For extraordinary heroism in connection with operations against the enemy while serving as a Petty Officer aboard the Aircraft Carrier U.S.S. INTREPID (CV-11), in action against enemy Japanese forces when his ship was attacked by a Japanese dive bomber from the starboard side of the ship in Philippine waters during the Battle of Leyte Gulf on 29 October 1944. Trained and assigned to a gun tub on the port side of the INTREPID, Steward’s Mate Third Class Jones was in position on 29 October 1944, when a Japanese dive bomber attacked the ship from starboard, aiming directly for Steward’s Mate Third Class Jones’ position. Grabbing his 20-mm anti-aircraft gun and pointing it across the flight deck, and immediately began firing. He remained at his post and continued to shoot until the plane finally crashed, its wings shot off, into the gun tub, severely burning him, injuring others and killing 10 of his fellow gun crew. His conduct throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Navy of the United States.

While minorities were normally relegated to non-combat duties on U.S. Navy Ships, Gun Tub 10 on the U.S.S. Intrepid was manned by Black and Hispanic volunteers, most of them cooks or waiters for the Officers’ Mess. On October 29, 1944, in the face of a diving kamikaze, these brave sailors of Gun Tub 10 maintained their duty stations until the enemy plane crashed into their position killing 10 men and badly burning the others. Six of the survivors were subsequently awarded Bronze Stars. Decades later Alonzo Swann, one of the six, sued for the Navy Cross he had been promised but which had been downgraded to the Bronze Star. Ultimately, from 1993 to 2002, three of the six men initially awarded Bronze Stars received Navy Crosses. Robert Jones also received the Navy Cross for his own actions on that occasion. Printed from the Military Times Hall of Valor.

Robert Jones died on March 16, 2016 while living in Newport News, VA.