HLS 15RS-1559 ORIGINAL
2015 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 79
BY REPRESENTATIVE COX
CONDOLENCES: Expresses condolences upon the death of Lieutenant Colonel Retired
Michael J. Jones, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To express the condolences of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the death of Lieutenant
3 Colonel Retired Michael J. Jones.
4 WHEREAS, it is with profound sadness that the members of the Legislature of
5Louisiana have learned of the death of Lieutenant Colonel Retired Michael J. Jones on
6November 28, 2014; and
7 WHEREAS, on August 2, 1963, Joe and Mary Jones Franklin proudly welcomed the
8arrival of their newborn son, Michael J. Jones, to Pineville, Louisiana; and
9 WHEREAS, Michael J. Jones attended Hanna School and Coushatta High School;
10he was an exceptionally intelligent and dedicated student; he was also very active in sports
11and popular among his peers; and
12 WHEREAS, Michael was a member of the National Honor Society, Who's Who, and
13was a Distinguished American High School Student; after his high school graduation in May
14of 1981, he enrolled at Southern University Agricultural and Mechanical College in Baton
15Rouge, Louisiana; and
16 WHEREAS, during his years at Southern University, Michael J. Jones was a member
17of the Pershing Rifles and an active member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated; and
18 WHEREAS, he graduated from Southern University with a bachelor of science
19degree in engineering and went on to obtain a master of science degree in adult education
20from Kansas State University; and
Page 1 of 3 HLS 15RS-1559 ORIGINAL
HCR NO. 79
1 WHEREAS, on May 16, 1986, Michael J. Jones was commissioned in the United
2States Army Corps of Engineers; upon completion of the Engineer Officer Basic Course, he
3was assigned to the 547th Engineer Battalion in Darmstadt, Germany, where he served as
4a combat engineer platoon leader and as a company executive officer; and
5 WHEREAS, in 1990, he was assigned as the Brigade Assistant S-3 in the 130th
6Engineer Brigade; two years later, he assumed company command of the 568th Engineer
7Company in Hanau, Germany, and in May of 1992, he moved the company to Fort Carson,
8Colorado; and
9 WHEREAS, in April of 1993, Lieutenant Colonel Jones deployed to Somalia in
10support of Operation Continue Hope; upon his return from deployment, he was reassigned
11as Project Engineer for the Defense Nuclear Agency in Albuquerque, New Mexico; from
12November of 1996 until July of 1999, he served as the AC/RC Advisor for the 150th
13Engineer Battalion; after graduating from the Command and General Staff Officer College,
14he served as the Executive Officer for the 588th Engineer Battalion and the Assistant
15Division Engineer for the 4th Infantry Division; and
16 WHEREAS, in April of 2003, he deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom;
17from August of 2003 until June of 2004, Lieutenant Colonel Jones served as the Deputy
18Eighth United States Army Engineer; Lieutenant Colonel Jones served his country in Kabul,
19Afghanistan from November of 2005 until June of 2006, as the Deputy, CJ7, for the
20Combined Forces Command-Afghanistan; and
21 WHEREAS, he served as the Director of the Installation Management Division for
22the Office of the Program Manager, Saudi Arabian National Guard in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia,
23from August of 2006 until July of 2009; and
24 WHEREAS, Lieutenant Colonel Jones served the United States Army with great
25courage and valor as evidenced by his receipt of numerous medals, some of which include
26the Bronze Star Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal with four
27oak leaf clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Joint
28Service Commendation Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and the Iraq
29Campaign Medal with two campaign stars; and
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HCR NO. 79
1 WHEREAS, on October 1, 2009, Lieutenant Colonel Michael J. Jones retired from
2the United States Army and immediately began his civilian career with OPM-SANG as the
3executive officer for the program manager; and
4 WHEREAS, Lieutenant Colonel Retired Jones' passion for his country will forever
5remain in the minds and hearts of all who knew and loved this brave man; he left an
6incredible mark on his family, friends, community, the state of Louisiana, and the United
7States of America.
8 WHEREAS, it is with great pride that the Legislature of Louisiana records for
9posterity the extraordinary dedication and commitment to his country that Lieutenant
10Colonel Retired Michael J. Jones displayed throughout his life and in the performance of his
11duties in the military service.
12 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
13express its condolences and most heartfelt sorrow to the family of Lieutenant Colonel
14Retired Michael J. Jones and does hereby acknowledge and record for posterity the unique
15and special contributions of Lieutenant Colonel Retired Jones to the state of Louisiana and
16to the United States of America.
17 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
18to the family of Lieutenant Colonel Retired Michael J. Jones.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HCR 79 Original 2015 Regular Session Cox
Expresses the condolences of the legislature upon the death of Lt. Col. Ret. Michael J. Jones,
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
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