James graduated from Waterford Township (Michigan) in 1964 and was the class Salutatorian. He attended the US Naval Academy and was commissioned a 2d Lieutenant on June 5 1968 in Annapolis Maryland. The class of '68 had several notable members. Among them were future astronauts, a Senator, a Commandant of the Marine Corps, a Chief of Naval Operations, a Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and Ollie North.      Jones attended the Defense Language Institute at the Presidio of Monterey (CA) before becoming a member of the The Basic School Class (TBS), B company, Class 2-70 as a First Lieutenant.. After graduation he attended US Army Ranger School before going to Vietnam where he served with the First Recon Battalion and the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division. Dale was killed on November 30, 1970 while serving as the Company Commander of I Company of 3rd Bn, 5th Marines. At the time his unit was attached to 2d Bn, 5th Marines. Dale's awards were verified by the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) to include the South Vietnamese Paratrooper Badge, and 2 RVN unit citations, the Civil Actions Unit Citation with Palm and Frame and the Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm and Frame. He was also authorized to wear a Navy Unit Citation (NUC) for the period of 1 January -17 September 1970 while serving with 1st Recon. He also was entitled to the French Fouragere (Green braided rope around left shoulder) while being assigned to the Fifth Marines. Members of the Fifth Marines and 6th Marines wear the braid while with those Regiments a tradition handed down from World War I. James is buried in White Chapel Memorial Park Cemetery, Troy, Oakland County, Michigan. He was survived by his wife, Carol J. (Howland) Jones, his mother Jeanne (Gillogly) Jones (1923-1974) and his father Eugene James Jones (1919-2004) both of Pontiac, Michigan at the time. - - The Virtual Wall, 9 February 2020

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