James Jones
U.S. Army, 25th Infantry Division, 27th Infantry Regiment

Background
James Ramon Jones was born November 6, 1921 to parents Ramon and Ada (née Blessing) Jones in Robinson, Illinois. He graduated from High School class of 1939 and learned boxing and competed as a welterweight in several Golden Gloves tournaments. He planned to attend college but lacking the funds he instead enlisted in the Army.

Wartime History
In 1939, enlisted in the U.S. Army and assigned to the 25th Infantry Division (25th ID) "Tropical Lightning", 27th Infantry Regiment "Wolfhounds" stationed at Schofield Barracks on Oahu in Hawaii. On December 7, 1941 he witnessed the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and Oahu. Sent overseas to Guadalcanal, he participated in the Battle of Mount Austen, Battle of Galloping Horse and the Battle of Sea Horse. He killed a Japanese soldier with his bare hands and earned the Bronze Star. He was wounded in his head and earned the Purple Heart. In 1943, shipped back to the United States due to a torn ligaments in his ankle, an old injury made worse in the war. After a period of convalescence in Memphis, Jones requested a limited duty assignment and a short leave. When these were denied, he went AWOL and when he returned to the Army was demoted to private. In the summer of 1944 showing signs of severe combat fatigue (post-traumatic stress, he was honorably discharged.

Novelist
He enrolled at New York University (NYU) and inspired by novelist Lowney Handy, began work on his first novel, "They Shall Inherit the Laughter" whose title was later changed to "To the End of the War" about a solider returning from war that was neither romantic nor heroic. When completed, the 788 page manuscript was submitted to Charles Scribner’s Sons and read by editor Maxwell Perkins who rejected it but saw promise in Jones and encouraged him to write a new novel.

After six years of work, he completed From Here to Eternity (1951) that was accepted by Perkins but after he passed away the new editor cut portions of he manuscript, including scenes with homosexuality, politics, and graphic language that would have been flagged by the censor of that era. The novel earned a National Book Award in 1952. Later, adapted into film From Here to Eternity (1953 Hollywood Movie) directed by Fred Zinnemann. The book sold 90,000 copies the first month of publication and resulted in changes to unjust Army practices portrayed in the novel.

His second novel was Some Came Running (1957) that was an experimental retelling of his childhood in the Midwest and drew little acclaim. Adapted into a Hollywood movie Some Came Running (1958). In 1958 married Gloria Mosolino and the couple moved to Paris where he wrote his novella The Pistol (1959) also inspired by his military experiences.

Next, he wrote the novel The Thin Red Line (1962) a fictionalized version of his experiences on Guadalcanal with the character Corporal Fife based on himself. Adapted into the Adapted into the Hollywood movie The Thin Red Line (1964) directed by Andrew Marton and The Thin Red Line (1998) directed by Terrence Malick. His last novel, Whistle (1978 posthumously published) based on his hospital stay in Memphis, Tennessee, recovering from surgery on an ankle. He was also a journalist and covered the Vietnam War.

In the middle 1970s, Jones and his wife returned to the United States and settled in Sagaponack, NY and began writing his last novel, Whistle (1978 posthumously published) based on his hospital stay in Memphis, Tennessee, renamed "Luxor" in the novel. He died before he finished the novel but left extensive notes for the last three chapters completed by novelist Willie Morris.

Memorials
Jones died May 9, 1977 at age 55 of congestive heart failure in Southampton, NY. He is buried at Poxabogue-Evergreen Cemetery in Bridgehampton, NY.

References
FindAGrave - James Jones (photos, grave photo)
From Here to Eternity (1951) by James Jones and From Here to Eternity (1953) Hollywood film is based on the 127th Infantry Regiment
The Thin Red Line (1962) by James Jones fictionalized novel about his service with the 27th Infantry Regiment on Guadalcanal
The Thin Red Line (1964) directed by Andrew Marton movie adaptation of The Thin Red Line novel.
The Thin Red Line (1998) directed by Terrence Malick movie adaptation of The Thin Red Line novel.

Contribute Information
Do you have photos or additional information to add?