SIGNIFICANT SIG
MAJOR GENERAL THOMAS PIERSON JONES '58
"You Will Always Find It Here."
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"I have lived an extraordinary lucky life."
General Jones is a native of Terre Haute, a mid-sized town about 60 miles southwest of Indianapolis. He attended Wiley High School before going to college at Michigan State University, where he graduated in 1958 and commissioned as an armor second lieutenant.
"I have lived an extraordinary lucky life,” shares Jones. “Both my parent’s families were just poor. My parents got married in the midst of the depression, therefore I learned to become very thrifty. They taught me about principles and values, and having a strong sense of self.” |
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Jones had an interest to join Sigma Chi before he attended MSC. The Gamma Psi men welcomed him and made him feel as if he felt in. Being an only child, he never had to share accommodations with anyone. He had to learn to adapt, quickly.
He says, “Moving into 729 E. Grand River, I had to learn to get along, to live with other men of diverse backgrounds, temperaments, and varied interests." This was a great learning experience which he applied all throughout his life. |
By all measures, his life and career has been extraordinary. He has travelled the world, served and led men in Desert Shield and Desert Storm. When he speaks about the highlights of his life, it all comes back to those he met, and those life-long friendships made while at Sigma Chi and serving in the armed forces.
If you ask him, “I am seeking true friendship.” He will certainly reply, “Well brother, you will always find it here.” |
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To read Major General Tomas Pierson Jones personal memoir and Sigma Chi journey, click here.
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Major General Thomas Jones - Professional Biography
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Jones went on active duty that summer at Ft. Knox, KY attending the Armor Officers Basic Course and then assigned as a Platoon Leader with Company C, 3rd Medium Tank Battalion, 33rd Armor.
Following active duty he returned to Terre Haute and was assigned to Company C, 972nd Engineer Battalion as a Platoon Leader and later Company Commander. He then served as Battalion S-3, Executive Officer and Battalion Commander from 1979 to 1982, following staff assignments at the former 123d Army Reserve Command. He next served as Deputy Commander of the former 451st Field Depot which was converted to the 21st Theater Army Area Command (TAACOM) (Conus Augmentation), the first Army Reserve unit to become an augmentation of a forward deployed regular army headquarters. Jones became the commander of the 21st TAACOM (CA) in 1988 and promoted to Brigadier General in September 1989. In December 1990 the 21st (CA) was mobilized and deployed to Saudi Arabia for Operators Desert Shield and Desert Storm. There General Jones became the Deputy Commanding General of the 22nd Support Command, the Third Army’s logistic command. He remained there for 11 months as they received, deployed and sustained all Third Army units arriving in Saudi Arabia as well as as all supplies and equipment. |
U.S. DECORATIONS/BADGES
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Following Desert Storm the 22d was responsible for the redeployment again of all personnel, equipment, and unused supplies. He returned to the US in November 1991.
Following command of the 21st (CA), Jones was then assigned as Commanding General of the 86th Army Reserve Command (ARCOM) headquartered in Chicago, IL in 1993. The 86th ARCOM was responsible for US Army Reserve units in IL and WI. He was promoted to Major General in November 1993, before he retired in 1996.
Jones civilian career was in the building materials industry. First in the lumber and building material business in Terre Haute. From 1979 until his retirement in 1998 he served as Regional Manager for MAB Paints, Inc.
Following command of the 21st (CA), Jones was then assigned as Commanding General of the 86th Army Reserve Command (ARCOM) headquartered in Chicago, IL in 1993. The 86th ARCOM was responsible for US Army Reserve units in IL and WI. He was promoted to Major General in November 1993, before he retired in 1996.
Jones civilian career was in the building materials industry. First in the lumber and building material business in Terre Haute. From 1979 until his retirement in 1998 he served as Regional Manager for MAB Paints, Inc.
