Louis R. Jones was born on June 29, 1895, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1914 and served as enlisted man until he accepted commission as second lieutenant on July 10, 1917. He was first assigned to the Marine Corps Rifle Range in Winthrop, Maryland and subsequently assigned to the instruction course at the Marine Officers' School at Port Royal, South Carolina. After graduation from the course, Jones was assigned to the 75th Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment. He sailed to France in October 1917 and served in Verdun Sector, where he was wounded by the effects of combat gas in March 1918. After his recovery, Jones was assigned as first lieutenant and platoon leader to the 83rd Company, 1st Battalion, and participated in Battle of Soissons during July 1918. He was decorated with the Silver Star for gallantry in action during this battle. During the following Battle of Saint-Mihiel in September 1918, Jones was ordered to take over an advanced line near Thiaucourt. He accomplished his mission under constant shell fire and was decorated with his second Silver Star. He was also decorated with French Croix de guerre 1914-1918 by the Government of France. Jones was later appointed commander of 83rd Company and participated in the Battle of Blanc Mont Ridge. He remained in command of the company after the Armistice of 11 November 1918 and served during the Allied occupation of the Rhineland. Jones stayed in Germany until April 1919, when he was ordered back to the United States.
Jones remained with 1st Marine Division after the War and was sent to North China in September 1945. His 1st Division, with Major General Dewitt Peck in command, was tasked with repatriating more than 650,000 Japanese soldiers and civilians still resident in that part of China. They were also tasked with guarding of supply trains, bridges and depots to keep food and coal moving into the cities. Jones also participated in the skirmishes with People's Liberation Army soldiers attacking supply depots. For his service in North China, Jones was decorated with his third Legion of Merit by the army and also received Order of the Cloud and Banner, 4th Class personally from Chiang Kai-shek. Jones subsequently returned to the United States in June 1946 and was appointed president of Marine Corps Equipment Board at Marine Corps Schools at Quantico, Virginia. He retired from this capacity on June 30, 1949. Following his retirement from the Marine Corps, Jones was advanced to the rank of major general on the retired list for having been specially commended in combat. Jones died on February 2, 1973, and is buried together with his wife Rhita Wilmer Jones and their two sons at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia.
