POIGNANT NEWS

THOMPSONVILLE — Derryl James Jones, 61, of Thompsonville, died Sept. 23, 2010, at his home. He was born in Cadillac on Nov. 14 1948, the son of James and Ardith Jones.

After graduating from Cadillac High School in 1966, Derryl entered into the U.S. Army. After finishing basic training he completed flight school and served three combat tours in Vietnam as a helicopter pilot in the 1/9th Air Calvary Division, B Troop. While serving in Vietnam he received numerous commendations, including three Distinguished Flying Crosses, three Bronze Stars, two Purple Hearts and a Silver Star.

Prior to his third combat tour, he married his beloved wife of 39 years, Christine Trojanek.

In 1977, he fulfilled his lifelong dream of becoming a Michigan Conservation Officer, serving in Monroe, Roscommon and Benzie County. In 2003, Derryl retired from the DNR after 26 years of service. During his career, he distinguished himself in many ways by serving as law division pilot for 10 years, playing a key role in the Mesabi Fur Company sting operation and spearheading the C.W. Bowman gill netting case.

After retiring, Derryl was able to rededicate himself to his hobbies, which included fishing, duck hunting, Red Wings hockey, monthly poker game, babysitting his trout pond and gardening. He made annual fishing trips to Lake Missinaibi, Ontario, Canada, with family members and a core group of great friends. He and Christine greatly enjoyed traveling the country to visit family, friends and interesting places.

Derryl was a giving man who was very dedicated to his family and friends. He enjoyed family barbecues and fish fries, hunting and fishing with his sons and grandchildren, visiting friends, giving away the produce from his garden, holidays with family members and spending time with his two grandchildren, Liam and Mia. He was greatly loved and respected by those who knew him, and he will be sorely missed.

He is survived by his wife, Christine; children, Michael (Ana Carolina) Jones and Will (Chantelle) Jones; grandchildren, Liam and Mia Jones; mother, Ardith; and siblings, Doug (Chris) Jones, Diane (Eric) Fernelius and Debbie (Bob) Hoeltzel.

He was preceded in death by his father, James; and grandson, Jose' Daniel Jones.

Burial will take place at a later date in the Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C.

Derryl Jones' died just a few months after speaking at my brother Jake's memorial service.  Jake and Derryl had served as soldiers together in Vietnam, working as a team on a helicopter, with Derryl piloting the craft and Jake as the observation gunner at the door of the chopper.  The one thing that was crystal clear to anyone who attended that memorial service was that Jake and Derryl loved each other.  The bond between them was clearly very special.  A soldier returns from war changed and perhaps the only people who can understand them are those with whom they served.

".....the war was still in him, and it would be in him for a long time to come, for soldiers who have been blooded are soldiers forever.  They never fit in.  Even when they finally settle down, the settling is tenuous, for when they close their eyes they see their comrades who have fallen.  That they cannot forget, that they do not forget, that they never allow themselves to heal completely, is their way of expressing their love for friends who have perished.  And they will not change, because they have become what they have become to keep the fallen alive." (quote from A Soldier of the Great War by Mark Helprin)