Douglas Rosenow (1965)

Until this day, Marine Major Don Jones' death, and the man himself, were not known to me, even though it turns out that we were/are brothers. In 1969-1970, Marine Phantom pilots pulled this Grunt's posterior, and those of his platoon, out of a number of precarious predicaments with their high-risk, danger-close tree-top bombing runs. It may well be that he was in one of those cockpits.

Those uninitiated in matters martial need to know what is depicted in his photo as a young Officer, likely taken circa 1968. The wings and bars tell of his standing as a Marine aviator, of course, but there is so much more to it than that. Once commissioned, having won that job by successfully surviving the world's toughest ten-week employment "interview/screening" at Quantico, called OCS; he underwent a six-months, full-time curriculum to learn how to lead Marines in accomplishing The Mission. Next, he was trained to fly, then to fly F-4's, at  Naval Flight School, Pensacola. As any graduate of that training can tell you, only the best qualify for Marine Aviator status, for they are carrier-qualified and fly ground-hugging bombing runs requiring precision placement of their payloads/ordnance, typically 50 meters from their heavily-engaged Grunt brothers. Believe this--those "Zoomies" are surgeons with that fearsome stuff, and beloved of all groundpounders because of it.

The flick also conveys that Major Jones fired "Expert" with both the rifle and the pistol; that is the highest class of shooting badge, earned on the range and only by the best.

I regret, as an underclassman, having not had the honor and privilege of knowing this brother, while in a larger sense we knew a great deal about each other, a few years later. Sir, your loss is that of those you left behind, and gave your life to protect. You were a Marine's Marine, and no greater title is had by any man. Well done, RIP, and Semper Fi.

Christiana "Janie" Graham (Kirk) (1964)

Dear Classmates, and Mr. Rosenow,

Don Jones was a treasured classmate and friend to all of us in the class of '64, as was his beloved wife Kathy Conard, also now deceased.  Jan Stanfield and I attended Cathy's marriage to Robbie Barkley, of Yuma, AZ, (along with several other classmates!) at which Marine pilots took to the sky over the Barkley ranch with the missing man flyover just as the wedding was to begin.  All present knew just what that meant, to us, and to our country.  I have never experienced a more moving event.  Two older children walked with their mother as she entered the scene.  Don had told Kathy to return to Robbie should anything happen to him because he and Robbie had become great friends, and he knew Robbie cared for his beautiful Kathy.  God bless dear Robbie!

It is precious that Mr. Rosenow has prepared for us his tribute to Don.  Thank you, from a grateful American!

Janie (Graham) Kirk, CHS '64

Douglas Rosenow (1965)

Janie, my father was Mr. Rosenow; you must've been addressing your too-kind remarks to me.

While not in attendance at that poignant wedding scene that you so movingly shared, you are most assuredly in error on one important detail--there was no missing man in that fly-over.

Know this; the Streets of Heaven are the safer, with Major Jones on station.

Respectfully, Doug