Larry's Blog: Black History Month Honoree Brig. Gen. George Jones
By 1010 WINS' Larry Mullins
We have been so fortunate to meet with some really great people, in putting together these "Black History Month" features every year. But none quite like Brigadier General George A. Jones!
I gotta tell ya, if I didn't already have a dad, I would adopt this guy! He's EVERYBODY's great grandfather. At now 93 years old, we met this gentleman near his home in Roosevelt. And by the time he finished telling us his "war stories" (both on and off the battlefield), you could hear a pin drop in the museum where we met.
More: One-On-One With Brig. Gen. George Jones
I'll let the Black History Month pieces tell the story, but I want to convey to anyone who has ever had to stare down an obstacle, that you can do it! General Jones overcame racism (he says), even on the battle field. The BATTLEFIELD!!! Yet, he became one of the elite soldiers that our military has ever seen in our generation. He shared about his upbringing in Harlem, and how after he returned home (on leave), he couldn't even get service at a restaurant in Manhattan, because of his skin color.
And after serving in just about every European and Pacific war we engaged, General Jones says he could not walk away from the opportunity to earn a paycheck and eventually a pension, (and not to mention the honor of serving his country despite his country's seeming unwillingness to serve him) made it all worthwhile.
Photos: Black History Month Celebration 2016
And he didn't stop after his days serving in the military. Vulcan Society…FDNY 20 years… Urban League chairman -- all posts he held after the theater of war ceased. I found myself overwhelmed at his humor, how humble he was, yet one of the greatest treasures of our time. I really thought of him as a treasure, because of his vast experiences in serving…all of us!
Nassau County honored him with a street name, and a monument near the post office in Roosevelt. I can't wait for you to hear the on-air pieces as well as the extended on-line version of my interview with him. You will laugh (Harlem was "up-south"), you will cry (a commanding officer once gave one of his subordinates a promotion just so that he would outrank the General) and you will wonder out loud, how did he make it through?
And are you ready for this...it never occurred to General Jones that he would actually be engaged in battle! Wait until you hear what enticed him to join the military.
I love this man, and everything he stands for. And even at 93, he just seems like he'll be around to tell his story "in person" for many more years to come.
