5. Memorial to our local hero, Spc. Kevin McCray Jones
by vmacSpc. Kevin McCray Jones, age 21, a transportation specialist with the U.S. Army and a native of Washington, died Thursday, Sept. 22, 2005, while serving his country in Operation Iraqi Freedom near Al Taqaddum, Iraq.
We salute you. We thank you. We mourn your passing. Heroes are hard to find… but we had one right here in town.
The Grave
by Don McLean
The grave that they dug him had flowers
Gathered from the hillsides in bright summer colors,
And the brown earth bleached white at the edge of his gravestone.
He’s gone.
When the wars of our nation did beckon,
A man barely twenty did answer the calling.
Proud of the trust that he placed in our nation,
He’s gone,
But eternity knows him, and it knows what we’ve done.
And the rain fell like pearls on the leaves of the flowers
Leaving brown, muddy clay where the earth had been dry.
And deep in the trench he waited for hours,
As he held to his rifle and prayed not to die.
But the silence of night was shattered by fire
As guns and grenades blasted sharp through the air.
And one after another his comrades were slaughtered.
In morgue of marines, alone standing there.
He crouched ever lower, ever lower with fear.
They can’t let me die! the can’t let me die here!
I’ll cover myself with the mud and the earth.
I’ll cover myself! I know I’m not brave!
The earth! the earth! the earth is my grave.
The grave that they dug him had flowers
Gathered from the hillsides in bright summer colors,
And the brown earth bleached white at the edge of his gravestone.
He’s gone.
Comments (4)
I was SPC Jones’ battalion commander during his first tour in Iraq when he worked in our battalion S-4 (supply/logistics)
section. He was a great human being who was always full of life and happiness. He always cheered people up when they
were down. I remember him talking about his family many times and I know that he was very proud of them (particularly
his Dad’s Navy Service). When we got back to Germany, I remember seeing him several times with his “Country Western” look.
He was a man that you can be very proud of. I know that my family and I will always remember what he did for America.
I left the battalion in 2004, but heard about what happened a few days after he passed away. I know that the 51st
Transportation Company and the rest of the truck companys from the 181 will be redeploying soon. I pray that they all
return safely and that the soldiers of the battalion headquarters which only recently returned to Iraq, will have a safe
deployment.
Thank you for the friendships you shared with our son and brother. We pray that, as you see the
tributes paid to him, each of you who is serving our country so honorably, will realize
that, through Kevin, the people are also recognizing what you have done and are doing for our
nation and the people of Iraq. Part of the praise and recognition is also for each of you!
You are in our prayers for a successful mission and safe return home. We respect and honor each
of you and thank you for what you are doing. In Christian Love, the family of CPL Kevin McCray
Jones, US Army.
Everytime we think about him, we cry.
I didn’t know him well, but he was my friend. I had only known him
for a few months while I was stationed in Mannheim
and then I moved away. We exchanged some emails and I was proud
to know him.
When I found out that I was coming back to Germany, he was the first
person I wanted to see again. When I sent him an email he said that
he had been deafened by an IED about a week before that and that he
had “lotsa brain farts recently but [he's] good.”
I knew that he was going to be in Iraq for a little while longer, so
I decided that I would wait to send him another email. I had just
been thinking about him 2 or 3 weeks ago. On the American Radio
station, I heard his name and I almost got into an accident. It’s
hard to drive when you’re blinded by tears.
I was gonna send him an email. I wanted to go to the Cove with him
or to one of the Irish pubs when he got back. When we were so drunk
coming back–we held each other up! We sent forwarded email back
and forth.
I feel so proud that I got to meet a person like him–but why did I
have to lose my friend? He will always be my hero and my friend!
I’m sorry to the family who lost their brave son and I wish there
was something that I could do from Germany for them. Please–ask
if there is anything.
Amber Shaffer-Farrell
amber.farrell@us.army.mil