By: Las Vegas Now Staff
It was a unique honor for a local solider who went above the call of duty, but doesn't want to be called a hero. Major Anthony Jones survived three rocket attacks in Iraq and became the latest solider to be given the Purple Heart.
It didn't just start in Iraq. Major Jones has been a military veteran for years. The former nightclub owner was forever changed by the attacks of 9/11, and six years to the day, Major Jones changed again into a hero.
The terms honor, country and duty resonate like the echoes of our nation's anthem. Jones has seen the battlefields of Grenada and Iraq in his 12 years of service. 9/11 though, was a call to arms and a time to reenlist.
“Oh, it was immediate. It was just a matter of getting the paperwork done so I could figure out how to do it,” he said.
The second time around in Iraq proved far worse than he expected. Jones jokes about it now, the victim of three separate rocket attacks.
“They used to call me rocket man, because it seemed like I was in the vicinity of every rocket around,” he said.
The first gave him a concussion, discovered only after he created a triage from the ground up. The day — September 11th, 2007 — six years to the day he decided to go back to Iraq.
“You train to do this. When it happens, you overcome it. You look it in the face,” he said.
The third attack was worst of all. Shrapnel lodged in Major Jones' back. Fighting off pain and another concussion, he rescued other soldiers only after he regained consciousness. For that he received a Purple Heart.
“We went to work after that, patched it up and went back to work,” he said.
His dad Walter has been through this before. Now the son joins the father and Vietnam vet — both have Purple Hearts.
“We don't look at it as being a hero. That's you duty. When you volunteer to go, you take what comes,” said Walter.
“I don't think hero is the name of the game,” said Maj. Jones.
It's just a reminder of honor, country and duty.
“I've got this motto, ‘Any day above ground is a good day.' And today's a good day,” he said.
All told, Major Jones was given the Purple Heart along with five other medals and commendations.
He plans to stay in the Air Force Reserves and fight insurgents again.
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