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WWII veteran to celebrate 102nd birthday and recovery from COVID-19

05/28/2020
KATV

LITTLE ROCK (KATV) — A retired staff sergeant, serving in the infantry, John Jones is no stranger to tough fights, but his recent battle with COVID-19 inspired his family to honor his legacy in a big way.

Some of the state's early COVID-19 came out of the Briarwood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. The residents there are at high risk, but even at 101-years-old, veteran John Jones still had some fight in him.

"He got COVID-19. He was one of the early ones who tested positive," said his son Don Jones.

John Jones was born in 1918, the year of the Spanish Flu, and on Friday he will celebrate his 102nd birthday. His family still isn't able to visit Jones in person, but his son wanted to do something special for his dad who had recently asked his sons to make sure that when his time came, his casket would be draped with a flag.

"For some unknown reason, I decided that I would pursue getting a flag that was flown over the nation's capitol. I thought with him being a veteran, he deserved something special, since he's 102," said Don Jones.

Don called Congressman French Hill's office and was grateful to hear that not only would Congressman Hill work to get his dad a flag, but Hill also wanted to honor his father's service and COVID-19 survival with a speech in the Congressional Record.

"It has really snowballed into something fantastic," said Don Jones.

Now, along with his two Bronze Stars and Purple Heart, Jones has his flag. Don says if there's a takeaway from his dad's life and military service, it is to look out for your fellow Americans, especially in the midst of a battle.

"Really, I think the best thing to do is to watch out for each other and help each other wherever we can," said Don Jones.