Wilbur D. Jones Jr.

Wilbur D. Jones Jr.
Personal details
Born
Wilbur D. Jones Jr.

(1934-07-09) July 9, 1934 (age 90)
Wilmington, North Carolina
EducationUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
ProfessionHistorian

Wilbur D. Jones Jr. (July 9, 1934) is an American author, military historian and preservationist. He worked to help pass federal legislation that in 2019 launched the World War II Heritage City program with the National Park Service.[1] He also served in the Presidential administration of Gerald Ford.

Early life, education and journalism career

Jones, a native of Wilmington, North Carolina, is a graduate of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill later serving in the United States Navy.[2]

Political career

Jones served an assistant and advance representative to President Gerald Ford.[3]

Historical writings and preservation work

Jones is the recipient of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, an honor given by the State of North Carolina. The award was presented in 2023 by Mayor Bill Saffo on behalf of Governor Roy Cooper, noting Jones' work for more than 10 years with U.S. Senators Richard Burr and Thom Tillis and U.S. Representatives David Rouzer and Mike McIntyre to make Wilmington the first World War II Heritage City in the nation;[4][5] Jones' chairmanship of the USS North Carolina Battleship Commission in an appointment by Governor Pat McCrory, and his many books about military history.[6]

Books written by Jones include:

  • Terrorfliegers: How WWII American Airmen Survived German Captivity and POW Trauma. (2023) ASIN B0C88871D7
  • The Day I Lost President Ford: Memoir of a Born-and-Bred Carolina Tar Heel. (2021) ISBN 978-0984490028
  • She ‘Shot’ Her Way to Success: How China's Empress Dowager Ci Xi Launched a Photographer's Trailblazing Career. (2016) ISBN 978-0998073507
  • Football! Navy! War!: How Military “Lend-Lease” Players Saved the College Game and Helped Win World War II. (2009) ISBN 978-0786442195
  • Forget That You Have Been Hitler Soldiers: A Youth's Service to the Reich. (2002) ISBN 978-1572492172
  • Hawaii Goes to War: The Aftermath of Pearl Harbor. (2001) ISBN 978-1572492608
  • Gyrene: The World War II United States Marine. (1998) ISBN 978-1572491496

References

  1. ^ Ingram, Hunter (August 31, 2020). "Why is Wilmington being named a World War II Heritage City?". The Star News Online. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  2. ^ Steelman, Ben (July 31, 2021). "Wilmington native Wilbur D. Jones Jr. recounts life in military and politics in new memoir". The Star News Online. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  3. ^ "Wilbur Jones keeps the city's WWII history alive". Good Life Wilmington. December 7, 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  4. ^ Gonzales, Simon (October 27, 2020). "A Lasting Legacy: Wilmington's role in the Second World War receives national recognition". The Wrightsville Beach Magazine. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  5. ^ "Remarks by President Trump on Designating Wilmington, North Carolina as the First American World War II Heritage City | Wilmington, NC". Trump White House Archives. September 2, 2020. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  6. ^ "Local Historian Wilbur Jones Jr. Honored With the Order of the Long Leaf Pine". The City of Wilmington, North Carolina. February 13, 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2024.