Maine native killed in Ukraine preventing was ‘on the lookout for a way of function’ father says
Throughout his first journey abroad to help Ukraine final 12 months, Jeffrey Judd Jones was pulled right into a rally supporting the nation’s efforts within the conflict towards Russia.
It was March 2022, and he was working with volunteers from world wide to assist refugees fleeing the battle, primarily ladies and kids. Jones directed individuals by railroad stations close to Krakow for a while, although the language barrier generally made it tough.
“We’re going to do our greatest to save lots of all of your individuals,” he informed the group in a Fb video that he shared April 21, 2022. “I’m only one individual, however I couldn’t keep house and sit on the sofa whereas this occurred.”
When he was completed talking, a girl grabbed the bullhorn.
“You’re our hero,” she mentioned. “Thanks a lot.”
Jones died July 31, throughout a mortar shell explosion close to the jap metropolis of Bakhmut. He had fought with the Ukrainian International Legion since June. His father, Howard Jones, obtained affirmation that he was killed in motion from the US Embassy in Kyiv.
Jeffrey Jones, 48, was born in Lewiston and grew up in Bowdoinham. He lived in Perry, Georgia, earlier than touring to Ukraine as a volunteer twice since Russian forces invaded the nation in February 2022. He was a United States Military veteran.
Howard Jones and his late spouse, Earline, adopted him when he was 10 years previous. Jeffrey Jones’ father described him as devoted, passionate and useful to his mates. If he set his thoughts to one thing, he would do it, his father mentioned.
“I attempted to persuade him to remain in safer areas, like in Poland the place he may do humanitarian work,” mentioned Howard Jones, who lives part-time in Harpswell and the remainder of the 12 months in Perry, Georgia. “He tried, however he wished to do extra. He noticed refugees crossing the border and destruction in Ukraine’s cities. It stored haunting him.”
Jeffrey Jones is survived by his estranged spouse and grownup son in Brunswick, together with a number of siblings and different family members.
His ashes can be dropped at Bangor later this month. Members of the family are nonetheless deciding the way to correctly honor his life, however it’s probably {that a} gathering can be held for his family members.
Jeffrey Jones sometimes shared his experiences on Fb, like on Could 27, 2022, when he wrote that Russian missiles struck a coaching base the place he was working and killed dozens of individuals. He had obtained coaching to work with a staff of volunteer medics that aided wounded troopers and transported them to security.
He had lived in Ukraine for a few month at that time, throughout which he noticed “numerous wounded individuals and accidents that shake you to your core,” he wrote.
A wall collapsed and fell onto Jeffrey Jones throughout an artillery strike, touchdown him in a Ukrainian hospital for 5 days to deal with his concussion, Howard Jones mentioned. He returned to Georgia in July 2022 to get better and take a break from the conflict.
Nevertheless it was lower than a month earlier than Jeffrey Jones talked about going again. In April 2023, he traveled once more to Ukraine — this time with the intention of placing his abilities as an Military veteran and Spartan Race competitor to higher use.
Jeffrey Jones volunteered with the nonprofit American Ukrainian Basis, the place he helped with the processing of meals, pet provides and medical donations. However he felt that he can be extra useful on the frontlines, Howard Jones mentioned.
“He was on the lookout for a way of function in his life,” he mentioned, probably due to his traumatic childhood and strained relationships in his life. “He informed me a number of instances that he wished to remain in Ukraine after the conflict to assist rebuild.”
Jeffrey Jones joined the U.S. Military when he was in his early 20s, and after finishing primary coaching, he labored with the airborne division, the place he parachuted out of planes. He was quickly discharged because of a bodily limitation, Howard Jones mentioned.
“He was disenchanted that he was not capable of proceed,” he mentioned. “It most likely was a ardour that he felt he wanted to meet.”
In the course of the pandemic, Jeffrey Jones labored at Abbott Laboratories in Westbrook, one of many nation’s largest producers of COVID-19 check kits. Earlier than that, he held a producing job in Biddeford. He moved to Georgia in early 2022 and lived along with his father earlier than going abroad.
Jessie Judd, his half-sister who lives in Portland, knew that Jeffrey Jones was spending time in unsafe areas of Ukraine however she didn’t count on his story to finish this manner. They didn’t develop up collectively however turned nearer in recent times, and he was one of many bravest individuals she had ever identified, she mentioned.
“He would inform me how a lot he missed and liked me and my daughter, who he would name Peanut,” she mentioned. “We’d inform him that we have been praying for his protected return.”
The main points surrounding Jeffrey Jones’ demise are unclear, although his father pieced collectively that his squad of about eight males was trying ahead to a couple days of relaxation when their plans modified. One other firm was too afraid to go to the frontline, forcing them to affix the struggle once more, he wrote on July 31.
“I think that Jeff’s squad not solely volunteered for a mission different squads have been too afraid to do, however that Jeff was within the lead, taking essentially the most danger,” Howard Jones wrote on Fb. “Others have survived because of Jeff’s sacrifice.”
