| Edward A. "Hillbilly" Jones | |
|---|---|
 Hillbilly in Peleliu | |
|
Actor |
Leon Ford |
|
Rank |
Lieutenant |
|
Battles |
Guadalcanal Campaign Battle of Cape Gloucester Battle of Peleliu |
|
Status |
KIA, Peleliu |
1st Lt. Edward A. "Hillbilly" Jones was an officer who served as an aide to Capt. Andrew "Ack Ack" Haldane in the series. His nickname comes from his thick Southern accent.
History and Description[]
Early life[]
Jones was born in 1917.[1]
Hillbilly's early history is never explained in the series. Eugene Sledge mentions in his book that Jones hailed from West Virginia; however, it was later cited in R.V. Burgin's memoir "Islands of the Damned" (published in 2010 to coincide with the HBO miniseries), that Jones was actually from Red Lion, Pennsylvania.
Guadalcanal[]
It is known, however, that he was given a battlefield commission on Guadalcanal. Who gave him the commission is not specified in Sledge's book. In the series Hillbilly said Capt. Haldane gave it to him (in reality an officer doesn't "get one" for the person, they put in a request to a higher ranking officer (usually a colonel, who then approves it.) However, when enlisted soldiers are given commissions, it is very uncommon they stay with their original unit, due to the fact the men will still see them as an enlisted man, not an officer. So it is unlikely that Capt. Haldane got him the commission, because he would have been transferred to another unit.
Pavuvu[]
Hillbilly and Haldane talking to two marines on Pavuvu
Hillbilly was with Haldane when the former spotted Eugene Sledge and Sidney Phillips apparently fighting. When it was explained that they were best friends, Haldane and Hillbilly let them off the hook.
Peleliu[]
Hillbilly was part of the landing on Peleliu. When the Marines fought through the airfield, he commanded the mortar-men, including Sledge, to lay waste to some Japanese soldiers in a burning building with their mortars. Hillbilly is next seen that night as he listens to Haldane console Sledge during his time of recovery from the airfield assault.
Later, Hillbilly was given temporary command of the unit when Haldane was trying to get his orders changed. That night, all the Marines' attention is shifted towards one of their own flailing and screaming apparently from a nightmare. Hillbilly, Burgin, and two others attempt to hold the man down so a corpsman can stick him with morphine but cannot hold him down. Hillbilly eventually has no choice but to fatally hit the Marine's head with an entrenching shovel. Haldane consoles him by saying that Hillbilly did what he needed to do.
Bloody Nose Ridge[]
Hillbilly dead
After a short break, Hillbilly's unit went to join the Bloody Nose Ridge battle. When Hillbilly was standing on a tank at a place called Dead Man's Curve, Hillbilly was shot in the side by an enemy sniper off the tank. Soon, though, Hillbilly got up and went back to the tank, bleeding in the side. It was this moment where and when Hillbilly was shot in the chest. He never moved again.
He was buried in Slate Ridge Cemetery, in York County, Pennsylvania.[2]
Personality and Traits[]
He was described by R.V. Burgin as a "strict, by-the-book-officer during duty hours, and a down-to-earth good guy who visited the men in their tents carrying his guitar during off duty." Burgin also recalls that Hillbilly probably served 4-8 years as a "Sea Going Marine" (Marines who served aboard battleships, cruisers and the like). Hillbilly was actually the K Co. Machine Gun Platoon Leader, who spent several pre-war years as an enlisted man. He was given a commission following Guadalcanal. He never told anyone the details surrounding his commission; however, word around his men say that he was outstanding in that campaign. Hillbilly was "born a gentleman," as Sledge puts it. He always had a clean, fresh appearance in contrast with his men, even though they did relatively the same thing. His accent, however, was more Deep South than that of the hill country. Sledge also describes him as an officer that was friendly yet not too familiar with the men, and also possessing qualities of bravery, leadership, ability, integrity, and compassion. The only other officer possessing these same qualities was Capt. Haldane.
Trivia[]
- In reality, Hillbilly was killed while trying to get rid of snipers with a Sherman tank. He was shot and fell off the tank. As men rushed in with stretchers to save him, Jones tried to get back up on the tank but was killed instantly. He was posthumously awarded a Silver Star.
- Hillbilly didn't hit the screaming Marine with an entrenching tool; the Marines who witnessed this agreed to NEVER reveal who amongst them struck the fatal blow. R.V. Burgin and Eugene Sledge both saw who did it but they refused to tell anyone; Jones told Haldane that "what was done, HAD to be done."
See Also[]
References[]
3. R. V. Burgin's Islands of the Damned