William K . Jones William Kenefick Jones ( October 23 , 1916 – April 15 , 1998 ) was a United States Marine Corps lieutenant general and a highly decorated veteran of three wars , receiving the Navy Cross , the Silver Star , the Bronze Star , and the Purple Heart . He was a battalion commander in World War II ; a regimental commander just after the Korean War ; and a division commander during the Vietnam War . LtGen Jones ' last command was the Fleet Marine Force , Pacific . He served in the Marine Corps for 33 years , retiring from active duty in 1972 . Biography . William Kenefick Jones was born on October 23 , 1916 in Joplin , Missouri . He was raised in Kansas City , Missouri where he graduated form Southwest High School in 1933 . In 1936 , while in college , he joined the U . S . Marine Corps Reserves , attending the Platoon Leaders ' Class in San Diego , California during the summers . He graduated with a Bachelor ' s degree in 1937 from the University of Kansas . Early Marine Corps career . Jones was commissioned a Reserve second lieutenant on January 31 , 1938 ; was called to active duty on September 29 , 1939 . He completed the Reserve Officers ' Course at Quantico , Virginia , in November 1939 ; then joined the 1st Battalion , 6th Marines . He remained with the 1st Battalion for almost six years , including all of World War II . In November 1940 , he was integrated into the regular Marine Corps . In May 1941 , he deployed with the 6th Marines for Iceland as part of the 1st Marine Brigade . He returned to the United States in March 1942 . In Spring 1942 , he was promoted to first lieutenant and , shortly after , to captain . World War II . In October 1942 , he deployed to the Pacific theater with the 1 / 6 . He was a company executive officer ( XO ) with the 1 / 6 when he participated in the Battle of Guadalcanal . He then served as a company commander and the 1 / 6 XO . He was promoted to Major in May 1943 . In September 1943 , he took command of the 1st Battalion , becoming the youngest commander of a Marine battalion . During the Battle of Tarawa , the 1 / 6 under the then - Major Jones , " engaged more of the enemy in hand - to - hand combat on Betio than any other unit " . He earned a Silver Star and a field promotion to lieutenant colonel for his " gallantry in action " in November 1943 at Tarawa . His citation reads in part : He fought with valor in Battle of Saipan , for which he received the Navy Cross . His citation reads : After Tarawa , he also fought at Tinian and Okinawa . 1945 to 1953 . Jones returned to the States in July 1945 and was assigned to head the Tactics and Techniques Section , of The Basic School . Then from May 1947 until June 1948 , he served as the Chief of the Infantry Section , Junior School . He then served briefly in Washington , D . C . During this period , after the war , Jones authored , under the pseudonym " Base Plate McGurk " , a series of articles providing advice to young officers . The articles were published in the " Marine Corps Gazette " , then complied in a book and published by the " Gazette " in 1948 . From August 1948 to August 1950 he served in Sweden as Assistant Naval Attache for Air at the American Embassy in Stockholm . From August 1950 until February 1952 , he served as Head of the Operations Subsection in the G - 3 Section , Division of Plans and Policies , Headquarters Marine Corps . In February 1952 , he became Head of the Operations and Training Branch . He was promoted in rank to colonel in August 1952 . From June 1953 to September 1953 , he served as Assistant G - 3 at Headquarters Marine Corps . Korean War . In September 1953 , Jones moved to Korea to serve as Assistant Chief of Staff , G - 3 , 1st Marine Division . In February 1954 , he took command of the 1st Marine Regiment , 1st Marine Division — which post he held until his returning to the States in July 1954 . For his service in Korea he was awarded the Bronze Star . 1954 to 1964 . From 1954 to 1958 , Jones was stationed at Marine Corps Schools , Quantico . From 1954 to 1956 , served as Assistant Chief of Staff , G - 2 / G - 3 . From August 1956 to July 1958 , Jones was Commanding Officer of The Basic School , also serving as a member of the Fleet Marine Force Organization and Composition Board from June 1956 to January 1957 . In July 1958 , Jones assumed command of the Recruit Training Regiment , Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island , South Carolina . He held this command until July 1960 when he entered the Naval War College in Newport , Rhode Island . Upon completing the course in Naval Warfare , he was assigned to the Pentagon as Chief , General Operations Division , J - 3 , Operations Directorate , Joint Staff , Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff , in July 1961 . He served in this capacity until September 1962 , when he was assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps . On October 1 , 1962 , he was promoted to brigadier general and appointed Legislative Assistant to the Commandant of the Marine Corps , General David Shoup . In March 1964 , General Jones assumed command of Force Troops , Fleet Marine Force , Pacific , and Marine Corps Base , Twentynine Palms , California . Vietnam War . Jones served with distinction in two combat tours of duty during the Vietnam War . He was sent to the Vietnam in December 1965 , serving as Director , Combat Operations Center , Headquarters , U . S . Military Assistance Command in Saigon , Vietnam ( MACV ) . For services during this tour , he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal . He was promoted to major general in November 1966 . He returned the States in December , where he remained for two years before his second tour in Vietnam . From January 1 , 1967 to March 1 , 1969 , he served as Deputy Director of Personnel , Headquarters Marine Corps . For his service during this time , he was awarded the Legion of Merit . He returned to Vietnam April 1969 , taking command of the 3rd Marine Division . The Division conducted extensive combat operation near the DMZ from April to November of that year . In November 1969 , the 3rd Marine Division was redeployed to Okinawa , Japan . While in Japan , in addition to command of the division , Jones became the Commanding General of the I Marine Expeditionary Force and Commander , Task Force 79 of the U . S . Seventh Fleet . For exceptionally meritorious service from April 1969 to April 1970 , as Commanding General of the 3rd Marine Division in Vietnam and as Commanding General of I MEF on Okinawa , he was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of a second Distinguished Service Medal . He was also decorated by the government of Vietnam , being awarded the National Order of Vietnam , 4th Class , the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry , and the Chuong My - 1st Class Medal . Final command . He returned to the United States in May 1970 as Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff at Headquarters Marine Corps . His nomination for three - star rank was confirmed by the U . S . Senate on May 12 , 1970 , with promotion effective on July 1 , 1970 . On July 1 , 1970 , he assumed his last duty assignment as Commanding General , Fleet Marine Force , Pacific , serving until his retirement from active duty on September 1 , 1972 . He was awarded a third award of the Distinguished Service Medal for his during this assignment . In retirement . Jones retired from active duty in 1972 . In retirement , he served on the board of directors of the Naval War College . In 1987 , Jones penned the book " A Brief History of the 6th Marines " , published by the Marine Corps ' History and Museums Division . LtGen Jones died on April 15 , 1998 in Alexandria , Virginia of a stroke . He was buried with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery . Awards and decorations . A complete list of LtGen Jones ' medals and decorations include : Family . William K . Jones was the brother of James L . Jones , Sr . and the uncle of General James L . Jones , Jr . , the 32nd Commandant of the Marine Corps . His son Charles Jones is a journalist and the author of " Boys of ' 67 " , which tells the story of three Marines who completed the Basic School in 1967 — Major General Ray Smith , Lieutenant General Martin Steele , and his first cousin General James L . Jones , Jr . William K . Jones was also the father of Carol Jones Hatton , Lt . Col . William K . Jones , Jr . , and another son , Hugh M . Jones , who died in 1965 . He was the grandfather of ten grandchildren .