The POW/MIA Day Story that Facebook Thinks is Too Political
With National POW/MIA Recognition Day held this past Friday, September 18, Americans from all walks of life and from every creed, race, and religion honored their fellow countrymen who became prisoners of war or were listed as missing in action and have yet to come home.
As a Marine veteran, career educator, and writer who advocates for veterans and their families, I wrote a story this week on Facebook about a young soldier, PFC William “Hoover” Jones, who died seventy years ago during the Korean War.
Jones was killed on November 17, 1950, just a few weeks after his 19th birthday, during a massive Chinese offensive. Since his body wasn’t recovered and the US Army was unsure of his fate, the family was simply told that Hoover was “missing.”
For nearly seventy years, his family waited and prayed, hoping for a call from the military that would bring closure to the painful story of their son and brother who had never come home from the war. Two years ago, on September 13, 2018, the day they’d been waiting for since 1950 finally came.
Hoover’s remains had been identified among 55 boxes repatriated to the US by North Korea. “We never gave up hope,” Hoover’s sister, Elizabeth Jones-Ohree, told ABC News.
PFC Jones was buried with full military honors in August 2019 at Arlington National Cemetery.
Soldiers from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment conduct military funeral honors for Pfc. William Jones at Arlington National Cemetery, August 22, 2019 (PC: Elizabeth Fraser/U.S. Army).
When I posted the story on Facebook, readers immediately took notice. Within twenty-four hours, the tribute to Hoover had reached more than 200,000 people, many of whom wrote heartfelt comments about the fallen soldier and his family.
But when I attempted to boost the post so that it could reach an even wider audience, I was informed by Facebook that the story pertained to “social issues, elections or politics” and was “rejected.” After filling out a form to find out what aspect of the story the officials at the social networking giant were so alarmed about, I was simply told: “Unchanged. After another review, this ad won’t run.”
Facebook's response to inquiry about ad rejection.
No explanations; no specific reasons for the decision; and no one to talk to about an appeal. The man behind the curtain had spoken.
I am frustrated, to say the least. I feel that PFC Jones, his family, and all the POW/MIAs who sacrificed so much for our country have been shortchanged.
Are they now too political to talk about, or was this just an oversight by the powers that be at Facebook? We may never know. One thing is certain, however, our POW/MIA’s and their families deserve better and must never be forgotten.
The story as it appeared on Facebook on September 13, 2020:
On September 13, 2018, the family of PFC William “Hoover” Jones, a US Army solider listed as missing in action since 1950, received a call they had waited nearly seven decades for . . .
In late November 1950, PFC Jones and his unit, 2nd Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, were hit by an overwhelming Chinese force near Pakchon, North Korea, and immediately began taking heavy casualties.
Members of the 24th Infantry Regiment heading to the front lines (PC: US Army).
Outgunned and outmanned, Jones and his buddies were forced to make a fighting withdrawal. During the ensuing hand-to-hand fighting in sub-zero cold, hundreds of Americans died.
What happened to the Nash County, North Carolina native, who had been raised on a family farm and enlisted in the Army “in hopes of a better life,” is uncertain. But in the horror and chaos of the non-stop Chinese assaults, Jones disappeared.
Weeks later, Jones’ mother received a telegram from the US military. Her son was MIA, missing in action. "I went home to comfort her,” remembers Elizabeth Ohree, one of the family's eight children. “My mother was in bed, it had gotten her nerves so badly.”
Ida Dickens, another of PFC Jones’ sisters, recalled in a TIME article that her brother had written a letter to the family on November 17, 1950, just a few weeks after his 19th birthday.
In the handwritten note addressed to his mother, the exhausted but cheerful soldier “with a wonderful sense of humor” talked about the hardships of the terrible North Korean cold and the long nights. “I hope I’ll be home by Christmas,” he added optimistically. It was the last letter he ever wrote.
For over six decades, the family waited and wondered. Had the 6’4” soldier, described as a devout Christian and his "mother’s favorite” by his three living sisters, died on the battlefield? Or had he somehow survived and perished as a POW?
Ida Jones-Dickens, left, and Elizabeth Jones-Ohree hold collages of their brother presented to them by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, November 2018 (PC:U.S. Air Force, Staff Sgt. Apryl Hall).
On September 13, 2018, the family’s questions were finally answered.
In a phone call the family had waited nearly seven decades for, Ida was told that her brother's remains had been identified among 55 boxes returned to the United States by North Korea.
In a meeting with the three surviving sisters (Elizabeth, 96, Ida, 93, and Thelma, 89) a US Army Casualty Assistance Officer explained that Jones had died on the battlefield from a head wound, most likely a blow from a rifle butt.
For the family that had waited so long to find out what happened to their loved one in Korea, it was a relief. "It brought closure,” Thelma Jones Hilliard said. "We never gave up hope,” her sister, Elizabeth, added.
Postscript:
PFC Jones was buried on August 22, 2019, with full military honors, at Arlington National Cemetery. In the months leading up to his burial, the family was inundated with an outpouring of support from local, state, and national organizations and leaders.
Two months before his interment, North Carolina officials, “in honor of PFC Jones' life and service,” had the soldier's remains lie in state at the NC State Capitol rotunda and lowered all US and NC flags to half-staff. Numerous church services, ceremonies, and tributes followed.
U.S. Army Pfc. William Hoover Jones lies in honor at the North Carolina State Capitol in Raleigh, N.C., Friday, June 21, 2019 (PC: Associated Press/Gerry Broome).
“Private Jones joined the military to serve his country,” Marine Corps veteran and North Carolina Veterans Affairs Secretary Larry Hall said at a ceremony honoring the fallen warrior. “He wanted to fulfill the promise he saw in America by giving his service for what he thought would be a better future for him, his family, and his community."
“He enlisted so he could travel and get a free education, which meant a lot to him,” his sister, Ida, recalled. "So he went, and he never came back.”
Today we pay tribute to Hoover Jones, his family, and all those who served, sacrificed, and died during the Korean War.
Lest we forget.
Click on pictures below to view larger image.
Top/Feature photo: PFC William "Hoover" Jones before deploying to Korea (PC: findagrave)
Keep up the fight Ned. PFC Jones did not die in vain and millions of South Koreans today live in freedom because of the sacrifice of heroes like him. Thanks for telling his story.
Charlie Neimeyer
USMC ret.
Thanks for reading the story and commenting, Charlie, and thanks for your service to country and Corps.
You’re right – the sacrifices of PFC Jones and our other Korean War veterans were not in vain. I’m glad to do my part in sharing their stories.
Semper Fi!
Thanks for sharing. I’ve an uncle, now gone, who served there as well.
I salute your uncle for his service in Korea, Michael. This is a wonderful country to live in today in large part because of the service and sacrifices of men like him. We remember them.
Appreciate your reading and commenting.
Shame on Facebook for such a disgusting and cowardly, unpatriotic act while they allow many other trashy comments to be posted!😡
Thanks for reading and commenting, Walter.
Yes, it’s frustrating to see FB implementing this type of censorship – no rhyme or reason to it.
FB is slip-sliding away from the ideal of a communication device for a lot of people. This story and censorship by FB is an example. I am proud of my brother in arms and am glad that he is home at last. We shall never forget those that served and died for freedom.
Thanks for reading and commenting, Edward.
Yes, FB is a good platform in so many ways, but this type of censorship is disturbing.
Appreciate your support for this story and PFC Jones and his sacrifice.
Great story–wish it had never happened, but we all need to know these things.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
I’m glad to do my part in sharing these stories. Our veterans deserve this and more.
Prayers for the Family of PFC William H. Jones. May PFC William Jones continue to Rest In Peace!!!
Thanks for reading and commenting, Paul.
Appreciate the support for the story and PFC Jones and his family.
A heartfelt well done to all who are responsible for bringing this young soldier home to his family and for his rightful place in Arlington Cemetery. 🇺🇸
Thanks for reading and for offering these heartfelt comments, Diana.
It’s amazing how they are able to identify these men so their families can get the closure they deserve.
Another reason could be because the article did mention his dedication to Christianity. There is a lot of hatred going around now toward Christianity and God.
Thanks for reading and commenting, Steven.
It’s hard to tell where they are coming from and it’s so disappointing. PFC Jones and his family certainly deserve better.
I think the Fbk police think that this story would shine a positive light on our current POTUS therefore influencing the upcoming election.
Thanks for reading and commenting, Linda.
I’m unsure what their thinking is on this. It’s very hard to understand and very frustrating.
Why is this considered political? All you are diing is telling of the unfortunate fate of PFC Jones. Helping us all understand the sacrifices we soldiers undergo. Sad that it was deleted by fb.
Thank you sir for reposting what your original story and the actions fb took for no good reason.
Thanks for reading the blog and commenting, Steve.
It’s unfortunate that FB would not let me boost the story so that a larger audience could learn about PFC Jones’ sacrifice.
I hope they will rethink their policies in the future.
Ned, you’re able to post at will on the Military Memorial Wall group, should you wish to do so. Please consider sharing your stories with us, as Admins may inadvertantly miss some. Thank you for all you do for veterans of all Branches.
Thanks for reading the blog and sending this information, Joe.
I’m glad to do my small part in sharing these stories and honoring our veterans. Appreciate your support.
I can’t believe FB considered this story an “advertisement”; shame on them!
This dishonors ALL GIs no matter in which branch of the military they served!
Michael D. Austing
President
42d MP Group (Customs) Reunion Association
Thanks for reading the blog and commenting, Michael.
I agree. I can’t imagine how I’d feel if this was my son or brother.