Scarlet fever
In 1953, Jones left the Beckly area and traveled to Knoxville, Tennessee where he enlisted in the U.S. Navy during the end of the Korean War. He served on the from 1954 to 1957, when he was discharged. During Buddy's time on the USS "Wren", he contracted a severe case of Scarlet fever that went untreated for a time, eventually causing long-term effects including excessive hair loss.