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Private First Class Morris Jones

An older African American man who is bald on top looks directly into the camera while smiling. He is wearing a light purple button-down shirt and a red and gray patterned tie.
  • Unit: Battery C, 3rd Howitzer Battalion, 211th Artillery Regiment
  • Date of Birth: July 27, 1934
  • Entered the Military: February 18, 1956
  • Date of Death: June 9, 2012
  • Hometown: Springfield, Massachusetts
  • Place of Death: Springfield, Massachusetts
  • Award(s): Good Conduct Medal
  • Cemetery: Section WF, Row B, Grave 17. Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Agawam, Massachusetts
Contributed by Matthew Brady, Ryan Brady, Steven Jiang, Colin Ross, and Shin Seung-Hwan
Mentored by Mr. Brian Sheehy
North Andover High School (Andover, Massachusetts)
2024/2025

Early Life

Morris Jones was born on June 27, 1934, in Springfield, Massachusetts. He lived with his mother, Daisy Mae Jones, father, Joseph J. Jones, and five siblings: Louis, Gussie, Arthur, Samuel, and Evelyn. His mother was a machinist at the Springfield Armory and also worked at the Totsy Doll Factory in Holyoke. His father worked in construction. 

He graduated from elementary school and later from Classical High School. Morris and his brother Arthur were the first in their family to graduate from high school and attend college. 

Morris attended South Carolina State College (now South Carolina State University) and majored in physical education, but left after one year.

A full page of a yearbook. The top ⅓ of the page is a black and white image of dozens of students standing on the steps outside the school holding a banner that says ‘Classical 53.’ Underneath the picture is a list of the names of students by homeroom.
Morris Jones’ junior year class yearbook photograph from Classical High School, 1952. Ancestry.com.

Homefront

Community Involvement

Springfield is a major city in western Massachusetts, situated on the banks of the Connecticut River. During the Korean War, it was one of three major manufacturers of M1 Garand rifles, responsible for producing over a million, with production continuing until 1957. The influx of federal funds temporarily boosted Springfield’s manufacturing sector, delaying the onset of deindustrialization that would become more pronounced in the following decades.

To combat a shortage of dairy products, the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources expanded a calf-raising program to increase the state’s dairy cattle population. This program was part of a broader effort to revitalize Massachusetts agriculture during a time of national mobilization. By focusing on calf development, the state aimed to address the immediate dairy shortages and lay the groundwork for a more sustainable industry post-war. 

Community Changes

During the Korean War era, Springfield experienced a range of cultural and economic shifts. The Milton Bradley Corporation, one of the city’s largest employers, saw a rise in sales as families increasingly purchased televisions and sought new forms of entertainment. Meanwhile, the Hartford Springfield Chronicle, a regional publication, ceased publishing for unknown reasons, marking a shift in local media. 

A wooden rifle is lying on a table with three magazines of bullets underneath.
These rifles were mass-produced to aid the Korean War effort. The Britannica Image Archive.
The top of the cover has a plaque meant to look like marble that says, “Devoted to the service of America’s children since 1860.” Underneath is an aerial image of the main office and factory in Springfield, Massachusetts. The compound takes up what appears to be an entire city block. Around that image is a yellow backing and underneath is the Milton Bradley name and ‘MB’.
The back cover of the Milton Bradley catalogue, 1957. The Big Game Hunter.

Military Experience

Jones entered the U.S. Army on January 12, 1955, and was trained in field artillery basics in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He became a Private First Class on January 12, 1956. While his deployment date cannot be determined, he was stationed overseas with Battery C, 2nd Howitzer Battalion, 35th Artillery for one year, four months, and sixteen days, where his unit served as artillery support. 

Following the end of the war, he was sent to the U.S. Army Reserve in Fort Bragg to serve the remainder of his service. He was honorably discharged in 1957 and was awarded a Good Conduct Medal. 

On January 17, 1960, Jones re-enlisted and served with Battery C, 3rd Howitzer Battalion, 211th Artillery Regiment, until February 8, 1962.

An image of the front and back of a gold medal on a maroon ribbon with white stripes. On the front of the medal is an eagle sitting atop a sword, which is on top of a book. Around the outside it says “efficiency, honor, fidelity.” On the back of the medal is a star in the center of a laurel wreath border. In the middle it says “For good conduct.”
The Good Conduct Medal is given to individuals who demonstrate exemplary discipline and performance during their service. Veteran Voices.

Veteran Experience

After his service, Jones returned to Springfield and married Alma Henderson Jones Coleman. The couple had six children and later divorced. They both played active roles in their children’s lives.  

Jones was a Post Office Supervisor for 34 years. He also worked as a civil servant in government, helping to better the community of Springfield. He was a city father and served on the city council. He made lasting contributions, including helping to reopen a library.

After nine years as a city councilman, Jones resigned and became the chairman of the Springfield Public Health & Safety Committee.

A full-page black and white newspaper advertisement put out by candidate Jones for City Council.
Political advertisement for Candidate Morris Jones in The Republican, July 29, 2009.

Commemoration

Morris died on June 9, 2012, at the age of 77. At the time of his passing, he had 11 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He was buried at the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Agawam, Massachusetts.

A close up on a gray marble grave inscription reading 'Jones Morris PFC USA Korea 1954 2012"
Morris Jones’ Grave. Find a Grave.

Bibliography

Primary Sources

Classical Blue & White. Springfield, Massachusetts: Classical High School, 1952.

“Daisy Twiggs-Jones.” The Republican [Springfield, Massachusetts], November 16, 1996. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1073618652/?article=805ef920-952c-49d2-879a-a07a7862709b&focus=0.19307806,0.5192245,0.35265547,0.7361504&xid=3355. 

Goonan, Peter. “Jones Cites the Need for his Experience.” The Republican [Springfield, Massachusetts], October 28, 2003. 

Hartford-Springfield Chronicle (Springfield, Mass.) 1940-194?. Library of Congress.
https://www.loc.gov/item/sn95063011/. 

Mirabelli, Manon L. “Ex-Army Sergeant Reflects with Pride.” The Republican [Springfield, Massachusetts], April 8, 2009. Newspapers.com (1076001093).

Morris Jones, DD-214 forms, Department of the Army. National Cemetery Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Morris Jones. U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current. https://www.ancestry.com. 

Morris Jones U.S., School Yearbooks, 1900-2016. https://www.ancestry.com. 

Morris ‘Moe’ Jones. Find a Grave. Updated June 9, 2012. Accessed January 17, 2025.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/91654067/morris-jones

“Statement, July 2009, Morris Jones, Candidate for Springfield City Council.” The Republican [Springfield, Massachusetts], July 29, 2009. 

Secondary Sources

“History and Culture.” Springfield, MA. August 19, 2021. Accessed November 15, 2024.
https://www.springfield-ma.gov/cos/history. 

Kelley, Pam. “Morris ‘Mo’ Jones Remembered as Gentle, Hardworking.” MassLive. Updated June 8, 2012. Accessed October 17, 2024.
https://www.masslive.com/news/2012/06/morris_mo_jones_remembered_as.html. 

Kelley, Pam. “Morris ‘Mo’ Jones Remembered as Proud Family Man, Social Activist.” The Republican [Springfield, MA], June 15, 2012.
https://obits.masslive.com/us/obituaries/masslive/name/morris-jones-obituary?id=10339368.

“Morris Jones.” Veterans Legacy Memorial, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Accessed November 15, 2024. https://www.vlm.cem.va.gov/MORRISJONES/838784 .

“MDAR History and Commissioners.” Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources. Accessed November 15, 2024. https://www.mass.gov/info-details/mdar-history-and-commissioners#frederick-cole-. 

“Places of World War II History in Springfield, MA.” National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, September 22, 2023. Accessed November 15, 2024.
https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/places-of-world-war-ii-history-in-springfield-ma.htm.  

“U.S. Springfield M1 Garand Semi-Automatic Rifle.” NRA Museums. Accessed November 15, 2024.
https://www.nramuseum.org/guns/the-galleries/wwii,-korea,-vietnam-and-beyond-1940-to-present/case-39-wwii-the-united-states/us-springfield-m1-garand-semi-automatic-rifle.aspx. 

Vergun, David. “First Peacetime Draft Enacted Just Before World War II.” U.S. Department of Defense. Updated April 7, 2020. Accessed October 17, 2024.
https://www.defense.gov/News/Feature-Stories/story/article/2140942/first-peacetime-draft-enacted-just-before-world-war-ii/. 

Whitehill, Bruce. “A Brief History of American Games.” The Big Game Hunter. Accessed November 15, 2024. http://www.thebiggamehunter.com/_mgxroot/page_10768.html.

This profile was funded by a grant from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The opinions, findings, and conclusions stated herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.