WALTER R. JONES, LCDR, USN

Walter Jones '21

Date of birth: August 15, 1897

Date of death: June 3, 1941

Age: 43

Lucky Bag

From the 1921 Lucky Bag:

Walter Raymond Jones

Cheyenne, Wyoming

"Walt" "Jonsie" "Whirlwind"

"ONE Two Three Four — Hep — Pick it up all along — Hey knock off throwing those oranges in ranks — I've been called up and cussed out twice today — Not that I mind but I haven't time to go up and see the D. O."

That, Ladies and Gentlemen, is the war horse and his famous battalion and is most typical of the boy efficient, considerate and always busy. You can't have the list of honors shown below without sacrificing spare time.

Walt comes from the land of broncos and buxom cow-girls — wild and untrained like his rubberset head of hair — (Bennett has combed it rather well). He is the smooth talking fusser and many a little girl has been surprised when she saw the Whirlwind throw a dozen or two, six-ounce gloves at some dazed would-be "pug."

One of the best bits of evidence as to Walt's character is to look over a list of the things he manages—He can manage anything except the fairer sex and they invariably get the best of him.

During his four years here Walt has gained the admiration and regard of every man in the class. He hasn't an enemy in the world unless it is himself.

Four Stripes; Lightweight Boxing Champion (4); Manager of The Log (2, 1); Manager of Lacrosse (2, 1); Manager of Boxing (2, 1); Boxing Squad (4, 3, 2, 1), RNT.

The Class of 1921 was the last of the wartime-accelerated classes. "1921A" was graduated on June 3, 1920; the second half, "1921B", was graduated on June 2, 1921. Walter was graduated with 1921B.

Walter Raymond Jones

Cheyenne, Wyoming

"Walt" "Jonsie" "Whirlwind"

"ONE Two Three Four — Hep — Pick it up all along — Hey knock off throwing those oranges in ranks — I've been called up and cussed out twice today — Not that I mind but I haven't time to go up and see the D. O."

That, Ladies and Gentlemen, is the war horse and his famous battalion and is most typical of the boy efficient, considerate and always busy. You can't have the list of honors shown below without sacrificing spare time.

Walt comes from the land of broncos and buxom cow-girls — wild and untrained like his rubberset head of hair — (Bennett has combed it rather well). He is the smooth talking fusser and many a little girl has been surprised when she saw the Whirlwind throw a dozen or two, six-ounce gloves at some dazed would-be "pug."

One of the best bits of evidence as to Walt's character is to look over a list of the things he manages—He can manage anything except the fairer sex and they invariably get the best of him.

During his four years here Walt has gained the admiration and regard of every man in the class. He hasn't an enemy in the world unless it is himself.

Four Stripes; Lightweight Boxing Champion (4); Manager of The Log (2, 1); Manager of Lacrosse (2, 1); Manager of Boxing (2, 1); Boxing Squad (4, 3, 2, 1), RNT.

The Class of 1921 was the last of the wartime-accelerated classes. "1921A" was graduated on June 3, 1920; the second half, "1921B", was graduated on June 2, 1921. Walter was graduated with 1921B.

Loss

From Daily Kennebec Journal on June 4, 1941:

U S Aide in London Dies by Own Hand (Washington) Comm. Walter Raymond Jones, assistant American naval attache and former skipper of presidential yacht Potomac, was reported officially today to have committed suicide. In a brief announcement, the Navy Department said it was without further information on Jones' death, but in London a member of the embassy, said that death came yesterday afternoon in Londonderry, Ireland. Commander Jones, 43, was in command of the yacht Potomac used by President Roosevelt for fishing excursions and weekend cruises on the Potomac river, from 1938 to November 25, 1940. On the latter date he was detached from duty on the White House staff and assigned to London. He took over his duties in the British capital January 16. Jones was a native of Grand Ledge, Mich., and an 1921 graduate of the Naval Academy. The navy said his next of kin was an uncle, J. B. Jones, of Grand Ledge.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

Walter's father was Barton, a lawyer, and his mother was Pearl. They lived in Grand Ledge, Michigan. By 1910, his father had died, and Walter and his mother moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Walter was near a nervous breakdown. He died from bayonet wound in the heart. He had secluded himself in a cabin on a British warship and had been ill for some time. A week earlier, his replacement was announced. Ruling was temporary insanity.
In February 1932, Walter sailed from Port au Prince, Haiti, to New York City.
In 1934, he had command of the President’s yacht, USS Sequoia, and he was in charge of the fitting out of USS Potomac in 1936.
Later, he was with the anti-aircraft gunnery school in USS Nevada (BB 36) and assistant fire control officer of USS Oklahoma (BB 37). In 1938, he returned to duty in command of Potomac. On November 25, 1940, he was detached from that duty, and on January 16, 1941, he reported as attaché in London.

Walter is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.