What’s up Doc?

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jeff Walston
  • 917th Wing Public Affairs
Barksdale AFB, La. --  The journey through life teaches valuable lessons, and some of those lessons mold who we are and help define what we'll contribute to society for the remainder of our days.

For him these lessons came very early, said Lt. Col. Joseph "Joe" C. Jones, who took command of the 93rd Bomb Squadron at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Aug. 2, 2009. Lessons he learned would be the catalyst that shaped the warrior he became, the doctor he is, and the plans he has for the future of the 93rd BS.

Born in Pensacola, Fla., Colonel Jones was adopted by Winford and Thelma Jones as an infant and spent his childhood years in Vernon, Fla.

"I was an only child because my mother couldn't have children. They were wonderful parents," said Colonel Jones. "I was very lucky to have the parents I had."

Colonel Jones' father was a chief petty officer in the U.S. Navy, and his mother went on to become a Licensed Practitioner Nurse.

After growing up in Vernon, Colonel Jones attended the Oxford Scholar Program at Jesus College at Oxford, England in 1980. He completed his Bachelor of Science in Physical Science, with double minors in Math and Computer Science from Troy State University, in Troy Ala., in 1982, and was commissioned in 1984 at Officers Training School, spending the next eight years on active duty.

While still a young captain serving at Barksdale as a radar navigator and flying in the 62nd Bomb Squadron, Colonel Jones' journey took a new direction when both of his parents were stricken with cancer at a "fairly young" age.

"I had to watch my dad die of lymphoma and my mother from complications of lung cancer. I just thought things could've been done better." Colonel Jones said.

He continued with his military career, and served as the executive officer to the Vice Commander of the 8th Air Force in 1990, but according to the Colonel Jones, in the back of his mind, he felt he should go to medical school.

He resigned his (Regular Air Force) commission and took a Reserve commission, using his separation bonus for medical school," said Colonel Jones.

"I spent the early years in my career in the Reserve and attending medical school, which was very demanding. There was also a brand new B-52 Reserve Bomber unit standing up, which is fairly dynamic too," he said.

The 93rd BS, which was originally formed August 21, 1917, with the activation of the 93rd Aero Squadron under the 3rd Pursuit Group, 1st Pursuit Wing, 1st Army, at Kelly Field, Texas, and then reactivated Oct. 1, 1993, at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., under the 917th Wing.

Shortly afterwards, Colonel Jones joined the Air Force Reserve and reported onboard as a flight commander, in June 1995.

At the time, Colonel Jones was not only concentrating on completing tasks for the promotion to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, but was also trying to complete medical school. With his support system coming at him from all sides, he completed medical school in 2000. That is when hard decisions had to be made.

"There were certain things I needed to do that I wouldn't have been able to as a resident - just wouldn't have had the time. So, I took a year to get those things accomplished and cycle back into my residency," Colonel Jones said. "I communicated that with Louisiana State University and the program director Dr. Larry Slay. They were comfortable with it, and even held a position for me."

On September 11, 2001, Colonel Jones's journey and plans took another detour.

"I was actually flying on that day, for LSU when I was forced to land in Center, Texas. Ten days later I was sitting on the British Indian Ocean Territory Island of Diego Garcia as a member of the 20th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron preparing for combat missions over Afghanistan," said Colonel Jones.

During the intervening years, before he actually started his residency in January 2005, Colonel Jones deployed more than four times, flying 38 combat missions and accumulating more than 500 hours of combat in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He completed his residency program three years later at the end of 2007.

For Colonel Jones, the field in which he chose to practice, Internal Medicine, has proven to be very rewarding. Not because of the recognition or accolades from medical associations or his peers, but from his patients.

"My rewards come daily in the smiles on the faces of my patients," Colonel Jones said. "That means more to me than any award you could get in medicine, just because it's centered on patient care."

Colonel Jones may not look for accolades from his peers, but it doesn't mean there are none.

"Com-passion-ate' says it all about Lt. Col. Jones, a true commander who embraces his mission with vigor. Passion...you can hear as his voice quivers with emotion and pride as he speaks about his troops," said Colonel Keith Schultz, commander, 917th Operations Group. "He is the ultimate modern day warrior, who wields a double edged sword to smite his enemies with one edge; while the opposing edge is a doctor's scalpel he craftily wields to mend the battlefield warrior."

The 93 BS was recently given primary responsibility for the Air Force's B-52 formal training mission after receiving 11 additional B-52s, approximately 320 maintainers and 40 operations personnel from the 2nd Bomb Wing. This move placed the 93rd BS in a partnership with the Regular Air Force under the Total Force Enterprise.

As he took command of the 93rd BS in 2009, he immediately sets his sights on the mission and his new responsibilities and challenges.

"In the late 80s, there was absolutely no tolerance for deviations from attention to detail as it pertained to the use, applications and handling of weapon systems." Colonel Jones said. "I bring that same attention to detail to this process. We plan to take the 93rd BS and 11th Bomb Squadron construct and turn out the most proficient aviator, and all the time that the aviator is training in this Flight Training Unit, we will instill attention to detail, commitment to the war fighting ethos, commitment to your country, respect for your weapons system and in its capabilities and in developing those core skills required by a war fighter in this aircraft."

With the deactivation of the 917th Wing, and the reactivation of the 307th Bomb Wing scheduled for January 2011, Colonel Jones says his insight into the past will assist him in the role he'll play in the future of the 93rd BS, as well as moving his own career forward as a war fighter, wherever that may be.

"Understanding and respecting our heritage generates a connection to the heroes of our past and inspires the heroes of our future--plain and simple. Certainly, I have realistic goals and expectations; I probably won't become the Chief of Staff of the Air Force," the Colonel said with a smile. "I am a traditional reservist, so any career aspirations would have to be in line with those realities."

No matter what the future holds for Colonel Jones, he is moving forward with an enthusiasm that has not gone unnoticed.

"Joe is the energizer bunny. I don't know if I've ever met anyone who can absorb the amount of details, work nonstop, yet still be focused on his people," said Lt. Col. Jeff Stogsdill, commander, 343rd Bomb Squadron. "I quit trying to be like Joe Jones a long time ago. It'll wear you out."

No matter what the outcome is, as for his experiences on the journey through life and his links to the past, Colonel Jones said, "So far, it's been a wonderful ride."