PFC David Williams Jones, Davenport, IA on www.VirtualWall.org The Virtual Wall® Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall

David Williams Jones grew up in Davenport, Iowa, and was nicknamed "Lefty" as a child. Jones was drafted into the Army on March 29, 1969 and David began his tour in Vietnam on 29 August 1969 as an infantryman with the 199th Infantry Division stationed east of Saigon.

In January 1967, the 199th established its first and only Brigade Main Base, or BMB, several kilometers northeast of Saigon and Bien Hoa called Camp Frenzell-Jones. The Brigade Main Base (BMB) was named after two of the Brigade's early combat casualties from Alpha Company, 4-12 Infantry, PFC Herbert Ernest Frenzell and SP4 Billy Charles Jones. The camp consisted of 513 acres and included fixed and rotary wing runways. The camp was also the road from Ho Nai Village, which was a main enemy infiltration corridor into Saigon.

During the period 1 August 1969 to 31 October 1969, the 199th Infantry Brigade continued Operation Toan Thang III, in Long Khanh Province, and the northwest portion of Binh Tuy Province. One of three stated goals in the brigade mission was to upgrade the effectiveness of the 18th ARVN Division and territorial forces.

During much of the time, Company D, 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment continued under the Operational Control (OPCON) of the 3rd Brigade, 9th US Infantry Division at Can Giuocon. They performed small unit operations in the 9th Infantry Division area. In late August, the 3/7th Infantry began construction of FSB MACE, in the vicinity of Gia Ray, under OPCON of TF Cloy. Company A (-) and Company D, 3/7th Infantry conducted a road march from Can Giuoc to Brigade Main Base (BMB) on 30 August, returning to OPCON of the brigade.

On 31 August, the remainder of 3/7th infantry was released from OPCON of the 3d Brigade, 9th Division and conducted a stand-down at BMB until 4 September. 3/7th Infantry established their Command Post (CP) at FSB MACE in the vicinity of Gia Ray and commenced operations in southeastern Long Khanh Frovince.

3/7th Infantry conducted combined/coordinated operations in southeastern Long Khanh Province with elements of the 52nd ARVN Regiment and territorial forces. Company D, 3/7th Infantry conducted combined operations with territorial forces in Binh Tuy Province until 11 October, when they went OPCON to the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry.

During the operational reporting period of 1 November to 31 December 1969, the 199th Light Infantry Brigade (LIB) continued Campaign Toan Thang, commencing Phase IV on 1 November 1969. The brigade Tactical Area of Interest (TAOI) remained Long Khanh Province, northwestern Binh Tuy Province and the portions of eastern Bien Hoa Province between Highway #1 and the Dong Nai River.

Throughout November and December, the 3/7th Infantry continued operations in southern and eastern Long Khanh Province in combined operations with the ARVNs. On the night of 20 December 1969, D Company was in their night defensive position 13 kilometers east of the Gia Ray Airfield, when 5-7 rounds of suspected ARVN artillery fire hit their night position.

It is undetermined if Company D was otherwise under attack while in support of an ARVN unit under attack, but the cause of death to the four men was due to that 'friendly fire'. Several of the tribute articles imply they were under attack. He was awarded a Silver Star and Purple Heart on his marker, in spite of his cause of death being listed as Non Hostile in the area newspapers printing of DoD news releases.

Four Americans were killed in the incident. They included:

David died as a result of shrapnel wounds to the body.

Quad-City Times, Davenport, Iowa
22 Dec 1969, Monday, Page 1

Sioux City Journal, Sioux City, Iowa
Wednesday, December 24, 1969

Quad-City Times, Davenport, Iowa
01 May 1970, Friday, Page 18

Quad-City Times, Davenport, Iowa
21 May 1970, Thursday, Page 2

David was survived by his his stepfather Eugene Holmes (1916-2006) and mother, Doris Anne (Coffey) Holmes (1925-2005), sister Debbie (Holmes) Gripp (1961-2014), brother Eugene S Holmes and maternal grandmother Alice Rose (Schneider Coffey) (1895-1964).

David was preceded in death by his father, William D. Jones, where and when unknown and maternal grandfather, Christy J. Coffey (1889-1953). David is buried in Rock Island National Cemetery, Rock Island, Rock Island County, Illinois as is his mother and stepfather.

- - The Virtual Wall, 11 February 2023