This is a photograph of Lotchie John Ray Jones taken after he joined the Army at age 17.The body of a 17-year-old Marion County, Tenn., soldier who gave his life in 1951 during the Korean War is en route to Tennessee from the tomb of the unknown at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii.
U.S. Army Pfc. Lotchie J.R. Jones’ remains will arrive at Nashville International Airport on Wednesday morning, and on Friday he will be buried at the Chattanooga National Cemetery. The Jasper, Tenn., resident was 17 years old when he died.
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Visitation on Thursday is set for 2 to 8 p.m. CST at Tate Funeral Home on 450 Mel Dixon Lane in Jasper. The funeral service will be held at the funeral home on Friday at 11:30 a.m. CST. Jones will be buried in Chattanooga National Cemetery on Friday at 2:30 p.m.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Many-Bears Grinder issued a statement Monday about the recognition of Jones’ service.
Jones went missing on or about Nov. 2, 1950, in the vicinity of Unsan, North Korea, and is believed to have died while in enemy captivity at the Pyoktong Prisoner of War Camp 5 on Feb. 28, 1951, according to military officials.