Author James Jones’ family legacy meets Fifth Marine Division legacy
Kaylie Jones, daughter of “From Here to Eternity” author James Jones and his granddaughter, Eyrna Jones-Heisler, visited several veterans at the recent Fifth Marine Division Association reunion at Paradise Point Resort in San Diego.
“It was such an honor to meet these brave veterans of World War II and to get a chance to talk to them,” Eyrna said. “My grandfather died before I was born, and I never got to meet him. So when I hugged (Iwo Jima veteran) Juan Montano, it was like giving my grandpa a hug.”
Eyrna’s grandfather was stationed at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii during the Dec. 7 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Jones’ National Book Award-winning “From Here to Eternity” was about the days leading up to the attack and the days afterward. From Hawaii, Jones went to Guadalcanal with the 25th Infantry Division in late 1942 to relieve the Marines. The second novel in his World War II trilogy, “The Thin Red Line,” was about the fighting there, where Jones was wounded and received a Bronze Star.
From left: Ray Elliott with Iwo Jima Navy veteran Juan Montano and Eyrna Jones-Heisler
Both novels were made into movies, and “Eternity” was later presented in London as a Tim Rice-produced musical. The third book of the trilogy, “Whistle,” was almost completed when Jones died in 1977. He dictated the last four chapters from his hospital bed to his friend and author, Willie Morris, who finished the manuscript about veterans coming home from the war.
Also an author, memoirist and writing professor, Kaylie Jones is probably best known for her novel, “A Soldier’s Daughter Never Cries,” which was made into a film starring Kris Kristofferson, Barbara Hershey and Leelee Sobieski.
Other books she has written include “As Soon as It Rains”; “Quite the Other Way”; “Celeste Ascending”; “Speak Now”; and “Lies My Mother Never Told Me.”
Kaylie and Eyrna also kindly gifted a numbered first edition of “From Here to Eternity” to me and my family for what she characterized as “generous support and tireless efforts on behalf of James Jones’ literary legacy.” I only had a mask for them from the USSJoe.org that hopes to get a Navy ship named after AP photographer Joe Rosenthal who took the photo of the second flag raising on Mount Suribachi on Feb. 23, 1945, during the battle on Iwo Jima that instrumental in raising $26.3 billion in the last bond-raising drive necessary to finish and win World War II.
“Ray Elliott and my family have been friends for many years, and we would never miss an occasion to visit with him,” Kaylie said. “I was very moved by the welcome my daughter and I received from the elder Marines, veterans of Iwo Jima. I wish all Americans would honor our World War II veterans with as much zeal and active involvement as Ray does. This visit was a great reminder that none of us should ever lose sight of the fact that those young men went off to fight fascism and many did not survive. God bless all of those who fought so bravely for our country’s freedom.”
Author Kaylie Jones
James Jones wrote about war throughout his career and said in his later years, “I write about war because it’s the only métier I’ve ever had.” He also went to Vietnam in 1973 for The New York Times Magazine not long before the drawdown of troops and the eventual pullout. His book, “Viet Journal,” was the result of that tour of the country and is said to be a “book that is a vivid and candid picture of Vietnam only days before the American troop withdrawal.”
Like the Fifth Marine Division (the “Spearhead” division) that had been formed for service in the Pacific War and also fought in Vietnam, Jones’ 25th Infantry Division (nicknamed “Tropic Lightning”) fought in Vietnam for five years. The Fifth Marine Division had been deactivated in 1946 and was reactivated in 1966. The Fifth Tank Battalion was attached to the First Marine Division. The 13th, 26th and 27th regiments were attached to the Third Marine Division. The 28th stayed at Camp Pendleton, where the division was originally formed. Elements of the division served in Vietnam from May 1966 until April 1971. It fought in distinguished battles at Rung Sat, Chu Lai, Phu Bai, Hue and Khe Sanh. Marines in the Fifth Division were also involved in operations at Hue City and the Tet Offensive.
These Vietnam War Marines maintained the fighting reputation of the Fifth Marine Division Marines on Iwo Jima, just as the Vietnam War soldiers of the 25th Infantry Division carried on the legacy of Jones’ World War II troops.