Douglas Elmo Jones was the son of William H. Jones and Mary Ette Light.

He was employed by the Penn-Dixie Cement Company, becoming lined up with the blue in September, 1942. He served on the U.S.S. Plymouth.  He is memorialized at the East Coast Memorial in New York.

On her last voyage USS Plymouth left New York to escort a convoy to Key West when on Aug. 5, 1943 the U-566 slammed a torpedo into her. The ship took on a heavy list and sank in two minuets. Her commander, Lt. Ormsby M. Mitchel Jr., USNR was terribly wounded when he was thrown into a bulkhead after the explosion, but continued to oversee the abandonment of the ship. He survived, but lost a leg from his injuries. For his devotion to duty he was awarded the Navy Cross. Because of the swiftness of the sinking ninety-one crewmen were killed, four died of wounds the following day. Only eighty-five survivors were picked up and landed at Norfolk.

  • Rank: Seaman First Class
  • Date of birth:
  • 18 January 1921
  • Date of death: 5 August 1943
  • County: Sullivan
  • Hometown: Kingsport
  • Service Branch: Navy
  • Division/Assignment: USS Plymouth
  • Conflict: World War II
  • Awards: Purple Heart
  • Burial/Memorial Location: East Coast Memorial, New York, NY
  • Location In Memorial: Pillar XVIII, Top Panel
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