| James Earl Jones |
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Jones, who is 90, was born in Arkabutla, Mississippi, on Jan. 17, 1931. He excelled in school and, in 1951, attended the University of Michigan as a pre-med major. He was also a member of the university's Reserve Officer Training Corps. Jones said he felt comfortable within the structure of the military environment and enjoyed the camaraderie of his fellow cadets in the Pershing Rifles Drill Team and Scabbard and Blade Honor Society. While at the university, Jones said he lost interest in becoming a physician and, instead, set his sights on becoming an actor. He switched majors and attended the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance. In the summer of 1953, Jones was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army and reported to Fort Benning, Georgia, for the Officers Basic Course, followed by Ranger School. Following training, Jones was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 38th Regimental Combat Team. His first and only assignment was to help establish a cold weather training command at the former Camp Hale near Leadville, Colorado. Jones stated his regiment was established as a training unit, to train in the bitter cold weather and the rugged terrain of the Rocky Mountains, Jones told the Army in an interview. He took to the physical challenge, so much so that he wanted to stay there, testing himself in that awesome environment, and mastering survival skills. Jones stated that he loved the austere beauty of the mountains and the exhilaration of the weather and the altitude. I didn’t mind the rigors of the work or the pioneer-like existence. He thought it was a good life. |
