Wilbur Jones Compositions, L.L.C.

Jones Signs at National D-Day Memorial

wjonesllc — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:57:35 +0000

On Saturday, April 20^th historical interpreters turned out in full battle gear to show the public what soldiers did, carried, and thought about to prepare for the invasion of Europe. Nationally acclaimed author Wilbur D. Jones, Jr. was on site signing books from 10am to 4pm. Jones is an award-winning author and military historian in Wilmington, North Carolina. He writes, lectures, and consults on history and national defense, serves as a media source, and leads worldwide tours of World War II battlefields and sites. Jones is a retired Navy captain who commanded two Reserve units, including the Atlantic Fleet Naval Beach Group Reserve, a support unit that lands with Marines in an amphibious assault. He served nearly 41 consecutive years in the Department of Defense on active duty, in the Ready Reserve, and as a civilian professor and Associate Dean of Information at the Defense Acquisition University (formerly Defense Systems Management College). Jones’s book Gyrene: The World War II United States Marine was used as a “technical reference manual” in 2007 to train actors in Australia for filming “The Pacific,” the Steven Spielberg-Tom Hanks HBO mini-series production about WWII Marines. Jones has authored over seventeen books and will be selling and signing his World War II publications during the event.

Commemoration of Pearl Harbor Survivors 71st Anniversary

wjonesllc — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 14:13:16 +0000

New Hanover County Commissioners Chairman Jonathan Barfield addresses annual Pearl Harbor commemoration at Battleship Park. American Legion Post 10 Honor Guard, USCGC Diligence, and Ashley High School Navy JROTC are backdrop. Seated Wilbur Jones, COL Robert Newman, USAF (Ret.) and Mayor Bill Saffo.

Commemoration of Pearl Harbor Survivors 71st Anniversary of Japanese attack on Hawaii – Battleship Park, Dec. 7, 2012

WWII Memorial Giclee Dedication and Medal of Honor Recipient Charles Murray Documentary Event

wjonesllc — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 14:43:11 +0000

World War II History Preservation Event Features National WWII Memorial Giclee Dedication and Medal of Honor Recipient Charles Murray Documentary

The momentum to preserve Southeastern North Carolina’s rich World War II history continues on Saturday, February 23, with the dedication of a giclee of the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D. C., and the first North Carolina screening of a new documentary on the military service of Wilmington WWII Medal of Honor recipient Colonel Charles P. Murray, Jr.

The event, sponsored by the WWII Wilmington Home Front Heritage Coalition with the Wilmington Art Association (WAA), will be held at the Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center, 120 South Second Street in Wilmington, at 10:00 a.m. It is free and open to the public.

Wilmington resident Colonel Kenneth S. Pond, USA (Ret.), a native North Carolinian and former executive director and chief operating officer of the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC), donated the painting.

He served during the Memorial’s fund raising and construction, and commissioned artist John M. Barber to paint the giclee original for its 2004 dedication. The vista looks westward at sunset across the WWII Memorial toward the Lincoln Memorial.

The 30-minute Murray documentary, “Man and Moment,” produced by South Carolina public television (etv [correct]), will be shown afterwards. It highlights his December 1944 Medal of Honor action in the vineyards near Kaysersberg, Alsace, Germany, where as a 3rd Infantry Division company commander he thwarted a 200-man German counterattack on U.S. forces, killing 20.

Coalition chairman Wilbur Jones visited the Murray Medal of Honor action site twice in recent years. The wartime shrine and cross-trails still exist.

A New Hanover High School graduate (1938) and strong Coalition supporter, Murray retired to Columbia where he died in 2011. A Wilmington middle school is named for him.

Congress established the ABMC to commemorate the service, achievements, and sacrifice of U.S. armed forces. It manages 24 overseas military cemeteries, and 25 memorials including the National WWII Memorial, monuments, and markers. Nearly all the cemeteries and memorials specifically honor those who served in World Wars I and II.

The Coalition is the de-facto preservationist of the building, which now houses a community gallery administered by the WAA.

“Considering the giclee’s significance, and the pride Wilmington has in its heroic son, this event is a grand merging of history and art,” said Jones, “and exactly what this wonderful building means to our community.”

Speakers will include Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo, New Hanover County Commissioners chairman Woody White, Colonel Pond, and WAA president Elaine Rogers Cooper.

For further information, contact Jones at 910-793-6393 or send an email to JonesWD@aol.com.

Temple of Israel Lecture

wjonesllc — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 14:37:47 +0000

What: Temple of Israel Lecture
When: December 9, 2012
Time: 9:00 AM
Where: Jewish Senior Mens Club, Wilmington

Article on Jones’ Effort to Have Wilmington Declared First American World War II City

wjonesllc — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 17:23:08 +0000

Recently, Bill Steelman of the Star News authored an article entitled Bill will honor Wilmington’s WWII History. The article details the most recent updates in the effort to have Wilmington declared the first “American World War II City.”

Excerpt

Legislation is on track to have Wilmington declared the first “American World War II City,” the chairman of the World War II Wilmington Homefront Heritage Coalition said Thursday night.

Passage in Congress should be “almost pro forma” either in the lame duck session after the Nov. 6 election or in early 2013, Wilbur D. Jones Jr. told the Historical Society of the Lower Cape Fear.

If passed, Wilmington would almost certainly be the first World War II city declared, Jones said.

CLICK TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE

Remembering the Reuben James and its link to Wilmington

wjonesllc — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 17:33:14 +0000

Read the guest article written by Wilbur D. Jones, Jr. for the Star News entitled Remembering the Reuben James and its link to Wilmington.

Excerpt

“Dearest Boy, It has been two days and still no one has told me that you are coming back to me. I know you will though, because my heart is tearing in pieces and you wouldn’t even die because you’d know your going would do this to me.”

- Almeda Stewart Edwards, to husband Lt. Cmdr. Heywood L. “Tex” Edwards, commanding destroyer USS Reuben James, Nov. 2, 1941

Never mailed, this passionate, haunting love letter could never reach him, for he lay on the Atlantic bottom among his ship’s remains. Fantasizing, Wilmington native Almeda Stewart Edwards burned to believe otherwise.

CLICK TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE

Jones Helps Host Sir Ben Kingsley

wjonesllc — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 19:46:56 +0000

On October 21, CAPT Wilbur Jones participated with Battleship North Carolina Memorial executive director CAPT Terry Bragg and wife Phoebe in hosting British Oscar-winning actor (Ghandi) Sir Ben Kingsley on a tour of the Battleship. Sir Ben, recipient of numerous film and other acting awards, was in Wilmington finishing shooting on Iron Man 3. He is producing a World War I picture on the Royal Navy and the Battle of Jutland, in which he plays the British admiral Jellicoe, and requested the invitation to learn more about naval history..

Rexroad/Loweth Wealth Management client dinner

wjonesllc — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 17:59:21 +0000

What: Rexroad/Loweth Wealth Management client dinner
When: November 15, 2012
Time: 5:00 PM
Where: River Room, Water Street, Wilmington

Navy Operational Support Center

wjonesllc — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 17:57:19 +0000

What: Navy Operational Support Center
When: October 12, 2012
Time: 9:00 AM
Where: U.S. Armed Forces Reserve Center, Carolina Beach Road, Wilmington

“Rosie the Riveter: American Women in WWII.” : Historical Society of the Lower Cape Fear

wjonesllc — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 14:03:11 +0000

What: Historical Society of the Lower Cape Fear: “Rosie the Riveter: American Women in WWII.”
When: November 29, 2012
Time: 7:00 PM
Where: Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center, Second & Orange Sts., Wilmington