Staff Sergeant Willie Odell Jones

The Graveside Celebration of the Life for Staff Sergeant Willie Odell Jones will be held on Thursday, April 27, 2023, at 11:30 A.M. in Oak Grove Cemetery, 8763 Hwy 4, Winnsboro, LA 71295-4943. Fort Polk Army Base Personnel will conduct the service with full Military Honors. Willie was born November 3, 1919, in Franklin Parish and passed away on July 28, 1942, in Prisoner of War Camp #1 – Cabanatuan 1-2-3 in Luzon, Philippines of malaria.

Willie was raised in Franklin Parish and joined the Army Air Corps in May 1940 at Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City, LA, as part of the 2^nd Material Squadron of the 35^th Air Base Group. The unit was later activated as the 27^th Bombardment Group and moved to Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, Georgia. Willie trained in the 48^th Material Squadron as a mechanic on the Douglas A-24 Dauntless dive bomber to be stationed in the Philippines. He shipped out to the Philippines in 1941, arriving on November 20^th.

The Japanese invaded the island on December 8, 1941, and Willie became part of the 2^nd Battalion (27^th bombardment Group) fighting for over 100 days as an infantry regiment. His unit was captured in its entirety, and he was forced to endure the brutal and savage Bataan Death March from which he survived. He died later from malaria in the prison camp.

Willie was survived at the time of his death by Will Jones his father and by Maggie Melinda his mother. He was also survived at this time by his brothers and sisters, Viola, Grady, Florence, Huey, Annie Mae, Louie and Nellie. He is survived today by many nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to thank the Department of the Army Repatriations Branch, the Fort Polk Casualty Assistance Center and Mulhearn Funeral Home for their effort to finally bring him home.

Pallbearers will be soldiers from Fort Polk Army Base. Memorials in his honor can be made to the charity of your choice. Willie’s tombstone states that he “Gave his life in the South Pacific Area.”