Editing James L. Jones (section)

==Military career==
[[File:General James L. Jones visits MCRD San Diego, California (24 January 2002).png|thumb|left|280px|Jones visits [[Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego]] in January 2002, wearing an early version of the [[Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform]] in woodland [[MARPAT]]]]
In January 1967, Jones was commissioned a second lieutenant in the [[United States Marine Corps]]. Upon completion of [[The Basic School]] at [[Marine Corps Base Quantico]], [[Virginia]], in October 1967, he was ordered to [[South Vietnam]], where he served as a [[Platoon#United States organization|platoon]] and [[Company (military unit)#Marine Corps|company]] commander with Golf Company, [[2nd Battalion 3rd Marines|2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines]]. While overseas, he was promoted to [[First Lieutenant#U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Air Force|first lieutenant]] in June 1968.<ref name="Jones">{{cite news|url=http://usforeignpolicy.about.com/od/theobamaadministration/a/james-jones-profile.htm|title=The Obama Administration: James Jones Profile|last=Kolodkin|first=Barry|work=US Foreign Policy|access-date=February 6, 2014|archive-date=April 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413094508/http://usforeignpolicy.about.com/od/theobamaadministration/a/james-jones-profile.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Returning to the United States in December 1968, Jones was assigned to [[Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton]], [[California]], where he served as a company commander until May 1970. He then received orders to [[Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C.]], for duties as a company commander, serving in this assignment until July 1973. While at this post, he was promoted to [[Captain (U.S. Marine Corps)|captain]] in December 1970. From July 1973 until June 1974, he was a student at the Amphibious Warfare School, [[Marine Corps University]], [[Marine Corps Base Quantico]], Virginia.

In November 1974, Jones received orders to report to the [[3rd Marine Division (United States)|3rd Marine Division]] at [[Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler]], [[Okinawa Prefecture|Okinawa]], Japan, where he served as the commander of Company H, [[2nd Battalion 9th Marines (United States)|2nd Battalion, 9th Marines]], until December 1975.<ref name="Jones"/>

From January 1976 to August 1979, Jones served in the Officer Assignments Section at [[Headquarters Marine Corps]], Washington, D.C. During this assignment, he was promoted to [[Major (United States)#Army, Marine Corps and Air Force|major]] in July 1977. Remaining in Washington, his next assignment was as the Marine Corps liaison officer to the [[United States Senate]], where he served until July 1984. In this assignment, his first commander was [[John McCain]], then a [[United States Navy]] [[Captain (U.S. Navy)|captain]].<ref name=WSJ2007/> He was promoted to [[Lieutenant colonel (United States)|lieutenant colonel]] in September 1982.<ref name="DOD Jones">{{cite web|url=http://www.defense.gov/Bios/BiographyDetail.aspx?BiographyID=66|title=Defense Department Official Biography: Gen. James L. Jones|work=[[United States Department of Defense]]|access-date=February 6, 2014|archive-date=February 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221214717/http://www.defense.gov/Bios/BiographyDetail.aspx?BiographyID=66|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Senior staff and command===
[[File:CMC change of command 200301133b hr.jpg|thumb|upright|Change of Command ceremony, January 13, 2003. SgtMajMC [[Alford McMichael]] (left) salutes as General Jones (center) relinquishes command to General [[Michael Hagee]] (right)]]
Jones was selected to attend the [[National War College]] in Washington, D.C. Following graduation in June 1985, he was assigned to command the [[3rd Battalion 9th Marines|3rd Battalion, 9th Marines]], [[1st Marine Division (United States)|1st Marine Division]], at [[Camp Pendleton, California]], from July 1985 to July 1987.

In August 1987, Jones returned to Headquarters Marine Corps, where he served as senior [[aide-de-camp|aide]] to the [[Commandant of the United States Marine Corps|Commandant of the Marine Corps]]. He was promoted to [[Colonel (United States)|colonel]] in April 1988, and became the [[Military Secretary to the Commandant of the Marine Corps]] in February 1989. During August 1990, Jones was assigned as the commanding officer of the [[24th Marine Expeditionary Unit]] (24th MEU) at [[Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune]], [[North Carolina]].

During his tour with the 24th MEU, Jones participated in [[Operation Provide Comfort]] in Northern Iraq and Turkey. He was advanced to [[Brigadier general (United States)|brigadier general]] on April 23, 1992. Jones was assigned to duties as deputy director, J-3, [[United States European Command]] in [[Stuttgart]], Germany, on July 15, 1992. During this tour of duty, he was reassigned as chief of staff, [[Operation Provide Promise|Joint Task Force Provide Promise]], for operations in [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]] and [[North Macedonia]].<ref name="DOD Jones"/>

Returning to the United States, Jones was advanced to the rank of major general in July 1994 and was assigned as commanding general, [[2nd Marine Division (United States)|2nd Marine Division]], [[Marine Forces Atlantic]], Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. Jones next served as director, Expeditionary Warfare Division (N85), Office of the [[Chief of Naval Operations]], during 1996, then as the deputy chief of staff for plans, policies, and operations, Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington, D.C. He was advanced to [[Lieutenant general (United States)|lieutenant general]] on July 18, 1996. His next assignment was as the military assistant to the [[United States Secretary of Defense|Secretary of Defense]].<ref name="Jones"/>

===Commandant===
[[File:General James L. Jones MARPAT MCCUU Prototype.png|thumb|right|Jones examines an early MCCUU/MARPAT prototype during its testing phases]]
[[File:JamesLJones announced EUCOM 200301169a.jpg|thumb|200px|Deputy Defense Secretary [[Paul Wolfowitz|Paul D. Wolfowitz]] and Jones at press conference announcing Jones as EUCOM Commander]]

On April 21, 1999, Jones was nominated for appointment to the grade of general and assignment as the 32nd [[Commandant of the United States Marine Corps|Commandant of the Marine Corps]]. He was promoted to general on June 30, 1999, and assumed the post on July 1, 1999. He served as commandant until January 2003, turning over the reins to General [[Michael Hagee]].<ref name=DefenseLink>{{cite news |access-date=December 3, 2008 |url=http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=29581 |first=Jim |last=Garamone |agency=American Forces Press Service |date=January 13, 2003 |title=Transformation a Common Theme at Marine Commandant Change Ceremony |work=Defense Link |publisher=[[United States Department of Defense]] |archive-date=October 29, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081029004957/http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=29581 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Among other innovations during his tenure as Marine Corps commandant, Jones oversaw the Marine Corps' development of [[MARPAT]] [[Military camouflage|camouflage]] [[Military uniform|uniforms]], and the adoption of the [[Marine Corps Martial Arts Program]]. These replaced [[M81 Woodland]] uniforms and the [[LINE (combat system)|LINE combat system]], respectively.

===Supreme Allied Commander Europe===
Jones assumed duties as the commander of [[United States European Command]] (EUCOM) on January 16, 2003, and [[Supreme Allied Commander Europe]] (SACEUR) the following day. He was the first Marine Corps general to serve as SACEUR/EUCOM commander.

The Marine Corps had only recently begun to take on a larger share of high-level assignments in the [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]]. In December 2006, Jones was one of five serving Marine Corps [[list of United States four-star officers|four-star general officers]] who outranked the Commandant of the Marine Corps, General [[James T. Conway]] in terms of seniority and time in grade—the others being [[Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff]] General [[Peter Pace]]; former commandant General [[Michael Hagee]]; commander of [[United States Strategic Command]] General [[James E. Cartwright]]; and Assistant Commandant General [[Robert Magnus]].<ref name=PublicDirectory_20061206>{{cite web|access-date=December 6, 2006 |url=https://138.156.230.184/gosa/biographies/rptPublicContactList.asp|format=[[Microsoft Word]]|title=''Public Directory of: U.S. Marine Corps General Officers & Senior Executives''|date=December 6, 2006|publisher=www.manpower.usmc.mil}}{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

As SACEUR, Jones led the [[Allied Command Operations]] (ACO), comprising [[NATO]]'s military forces in Europe, from the [[Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe]] in [[Mons, Belgium|Mons]], Belgium. Jones relinquished command as SACEUR on December 7, 2006, and was succeeded by [[United States Army]] General [[Bantz J. Craddock|John Craddock]].<ref name="SHAPE_retirement">{{cite news |url=http://www.nato.int/shape/news/2006/12/061204a.htm |title=General JOHN CRADDOCK will be the new commander |date=December 4, 2006 |work=SHAPE News |publisher=[[Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe]] (SHAPE), [[NATO]] |access-date=December 6, 2006 |archive-date=December 6, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061206045512/http://www.nato.int/shape/news/2006/12/061204a.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> Jones was reported to have declined an opportunity to succeed General [[John P. Abizaid]] as commander of [[United States Central Command]].<ref name=WashingtonPost_Ignatius_20061109>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/08/AR2006110802084.html|title=The Defense Secretary We Had, Tough—and Unaccountable|first=David|last=Ignatius|date=November 9, 2006|newspaper=[[Washington Post]]|page=A29|access-date=November 18, 2006|archive-date=May 15, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080515232827/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/08/AR2006110802084.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He retired from the Marine Corps on February 1, 2007.<ref name="SHAPE_retirement"/>

===Awards and decorations===
Jones' personal decorations include (foreign and non-U.S. personal and unit decorations are in order of precedence based on military guidelines and award date):
<!-- Precedence: U.S. personal awards, U.S. unit awards, U.S. campaign awards, International & Foreign personal awards, International & Foreign unit awards, International & Foreign campaign awards -->
{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|colspan="4"|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Defense Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}<span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -83px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|22px]]</span><span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -63px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|22px]]</span><span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -43px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|22px]]</span>
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|{{Ribbon devices|other_device=nv|ribbon=Bronze Star ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Combat Action Ribbon.svg|width=106}}
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|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=United States Navy Presidential Unit Citation ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Joint Meritorious Unit Award (USMC and USN frame).svg|width=106}}<span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -73px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|22px]]</span><span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -53px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg|22px]]</span>
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Navy Unit Commendation ribbon.svg|width=106}}
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|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Vietnam Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}<span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -71px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg|18px]]</span><span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -90px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg|18px]]</span><span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -52px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg|18px]]</span><span style="position:relative; top: 0px; left: -33px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg|18px]]</span>
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|{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=Southwest Asia Service Medal ribbon (1991-2016).svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Armed Forces Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Humanitarian Service ribbon.svg|width=106}}
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|{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon.svg|width=106}}
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|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Legion Honneur Commandeur ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Ordre national du Merite Officier ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=CAN Meritorious Service Cross (military division) ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Commendatore BAR.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=EST_Order_of_the_Cross_of_the_Eagle_1st_Class_BAR.png|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=LTU Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas - Commander's Grand Cross BAR.png|width=106}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=PRT Military Order of Aviz - Grand Cross BAR.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=GER Bundesverdienstkreuz 6 GrVK Stern Band 218px.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Vietnam gallantry cross unit award-3d.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=VNCivilActionsRibbon-2.svg|width=106}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=NATO Meritorious Service Medal bar.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=NATO Medal Yugoslavia ribbon bar.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon with 60- clasp.svg|width=106}}
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{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
!Row 1
|colspan="4"|[[Defense Distinguished Service Medal]]<br/>w/ 3 bronze [[oak leaf cluster]]s
|-
!Row 2 
|[[Silver Star]]
|[[Legion of Merit]]<br/>w/ 4 [[award star]]s
|[[Bronze Star Medal|Bronze Star]]<br/>w/ [[valor device]]
|[[Combat Action Ribbon]]
|-
!Row 3 
|[[Presidential Unit Citation (United States)|Navy Presidential Unit Citation]]
|[[Joint Meritorious Unit Award]]<br/>w/ 2 [[oak leaf cluster]]s
|[[Navy Unit Commendation]]
|[[Meritorious Unit Commendation|Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation]]<br/>w/ 4 [[service star]]s
|-
!Row 4 
|[[National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal]]
|[[National Defense Service Medal]]<br/>w/ 2 service stars
|[[Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal]]
|[[Vietnam Service Medal]]<br/>w/ 4 service stars
|-
!Row 5 
|[[Southwest Asia Service Medal]] w/ 1 service star
|[[Armed Forces Service Medal]]
|[[Humanitarian Service Medal]]
|[[Sea Service Ribbon|Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon]]<br/>w/ 3 service stars
|-
!Row 6 
|[[Overseas Service Ribbon|Navy & Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon]]<br/>w/ 1 service star
|[[Gallantry Cross (Vietnam)|Vietnam Gallantry Cross]]<br/>w/ bronze star
|[[Legion of Honour|Legion of Honor Commander]]
|[[Ordre national du Mérite|National Order of Merit Officier]]
|-
!Row 7 
|[[Meritorious Service Decoration|Meritorious Service Cross]], [[Post-nominal letters|post-nominal]]: M.S.C.<ref>{{cite press release |title=Governor General announces the awarding of Military Valour Decorations, Meritorious Service Decorations and a Mention in Dispatches |publisher=[[Governor General of Canada]] |date=February 6, 2007 |url=http://www.gg.ca/media/doc.asp?lang=e&DocID=4961 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070209080845/http://www.gg.ca/media/doc.asp?lang=e&DocID=4961 |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 9, 2007 |access-date=December 2, 2008  }}</ref>
|[[Military Order of Italy]], Commander
|[[Order of the Cross of the Eagle]], 1st Class<ref name=Eesti>{{cite news |title=President Ilves vähendas medalisadu ligi kolm korda |language=et |publisher=[[Eesti Ekspress]] |date=February 7, 2007 |url=http://www.ekspress.ee/viewdoc/0997893706CC409EC225727B0031F1D8 |access-date=November 30, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927001536/http://www.ekspress.ee/viewdoc/0997893706CC409EC225727B0031F1D8 |archive-date=September 27, 2007 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
|[[Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas]], Commander's Grand Cross<ref>{{cite web|url=http://adamkus.president.lt/ordinai/table_e.phtml?sort=surname,7300,0|title=President of the Republic of Lithuania. State Decorations|access-date=July 30, 2018|archive-date=September 27, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927193455/http://adamkus.president.lt/ordinai/table_e.phtml?sort=surname,7300,0|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
!Row 8 
|[[Order of Aviz|Military Order of Aviz]], Grand Cross<ref name="ordens">{{cite news |title=Decorations to foreign citizens |language=pt |publisher=Portuguese Chancellor of Honorary Orders |date=September 10, 2006 |url=http://www.ekspress.ee/viewdoc/0997893706CC409EC225727B0031F1D8 |access-date=November 30, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927001536/http://www.ekspress.ee/viewdoc/0997893706CC409EC225727B0031F1D8 |archive-date=September 27, 2007 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
|[[Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany|Great Merit Cross - Grand Cross - Great Cross with Star and Sash]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bmvg.de/portal/a/bmvg/!ut/p/c4/NYw7CsMwEETP4gtoJQL5dQnG2E3SJVE62RJiQR-zWdtNDh-pyAy85g0DbyhNZkVvGHMyAV6gJzyPmxjj6kXEhB92hEuEZ91aJ6acHFeyS4yFngxnEnMmDtUsRMUItKClaq9SyX_Ud__o27477E7DrbvXw-BBWwdzjMft0jQ_CHziBA!!/|title=Ein Mittler im transatlantischen Verhältnis geht|date=November 10, 2006|publisher=[[Federal Ministry of Defence (Germany)|Bundesministerium der Verteidigung]]|language=de|access-date=March 21, 2011|location=[[Berlin]]|archive-date=September 28, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928141726/http://www.bmvg.de/portal/a/bmvg/!ut/p/c4/NYw7CsMwEETP4gtoJQL5dQnG2E3SJVE62RJiQR-zWdtNDh-pyAy85g0DbyhNZkVvGHMyAV6gJzyPmxjj6kXEhB92hEuEZ91aJ6acHFeyS4yFngxnEnMmDtUsRMUItKClaq9SyX_Ud__o27477E7DrbvXw-BBWwdzjMft0jQ_CHziBA!!/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|[[Gallantry Cross (Vietnam)|Vietnam Gallantry Cross unit citation]]
|[[Civil Actions Medal|Vietnam Civil Actions unit citation]]
|-
!Row 9 
|[[NATO Medal|NATO Meritorious Service Medal]]
|[[NATO Medal|NATO Medal for Former Yugoslavia]]
|[[Vietnam Campaign Medal]]
|[[Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)]]
|-
|colspan="5"|[[United States European Command]] Badge
|-
|}

===Silver Star citation===

[[File:Silver_Star_medal.png|40px|left]]

<blockquote>The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant James Logan Jones, Jr. (MCSN: 0-102030), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Commanding Officer of Company F, Second Battalion, Third Marines, THIRD Marine Division, in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On the night of 27 May 1968, while occupying a defensive position near Khe Sanh, Company F, came under heavy attack by a numerically superior North Vietnamese Army force. During the ensuing fire fight, the company defensive perimeter was penetrated by enemy. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, First Lieutenant Jones unhesitatingly exposed himself to intense fire and fearlessly maneuvered across the fire-swept terrain while rapidly readjusting his defensive lines. Ignoring the enemy rockets and hand grenades impacting around him, he boldly directed supporting artillery fire on his position to halt the hostile force's attack. Continuing his determined efforts, he directed the delivery of accurate suppressive fire which repulsed numerous enemy attacks during the remainder of the night. His heroic actions and outstanding leadership inspired all who served with him and were instrumental in his unit accounting for 230 North Vietnamese soldiers confirmed killed. By his courage, aggressive fighting spirit and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger, First Lieutenant Jones upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.<ref>{{cite web |title=James Jones - Recipient - |url=https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/23610#33985 |website=valor.militarytimes.com |access-date=29 July 2024 |language=en}}</ref></blockquote>

====Other recognition====
In 2000, Jones received the Golden Plate Award of the [[Academy of Achievement|American Academy of Achievement]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement|website=www.achievement.org|publisher=[[American Academy of Achievement]]|url=https://achievement.org/our-history/golden-plate-awards/#public-service|access-date=January 1, 2021|archive-date=December 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161215023909/https://achievement.org/our-history/golden-plate-awards/#public-service|url-status=live}}</ref>