]> MS6 Inventory of the Dwight A. Jones Papers, 1968-1973, 1991(bulk 1968-1969) Collection processed by: Carter Cue; Cat S. McDowell; machine-readable finding aid created by: Cat S. McDowell &hdrWSS; Winston-Salem State University 2005 Machine-readable finding aid derived from XML authoring program. Date of source: April 2005 Description is in English Inventory of the Dwight A. Jones Papers, 1968 - 1973, 1991 (bulk 1968-1969) Winston-Salem State University &tpWSS; Descriptive Summary Winston-Salem State University. Archives Jones, Dwight A., 1948- Dwight A. Jones Papers, 1968-1973, 1991(bulk 1968-1969) MS 6 Material in English .4 1 For current information on the location of these materials, please consult Winston-Salem State University Archives. Dwight A. Jones (1948- ) served a tour of duty in Vietnam from 1968 to 1969 in the U.S. Army. His papers primarily consist of letters written to family members and photographs from Vietnam, documenting Jones' experiences as an African-American combat soldier and his difficulty reconciling racism within the military, national patriotism, and Black Nationalism. The collection also documents the effects of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder experienced by Jones and his subsequent recovery. Administrative Information Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Dwight A. Jones Papers (MS 6), Winston-Salem State University Archives, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.

Acquisitions Information

Gift of Dwight A. Jones, 2003.

Processing Information

Processed by Carter Cue, Feb. 2005 and Cat S. McDowell, April 2005

Edited and encoded by Cat S. McDowell, April 2005

Biographical Note

Dwight Anthony Jones was born August 31, 1948, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, to Evans and Ruby Jones. Dwight and his older sister Patricia Lynn obtained their primary and secondary educations in the segregated schools of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County. In high school, Jones was a noted All-City defensive lineman, and helped lead Carver High to several championships. Following graduation from high school in 1966, he began working a series of jobs at local factories. In 1968, at the height of the Vietnam War, Jones was drafted into the United States Army. After completing his basic training at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and advanced infantry training at Fort Ord, California, Jones was deployed to Vietnam, where he served as an ammunition bearer for a machine gun unit for nine months. During his stint in Vietnam, Jones experienced the usual horrors of war unique to combat soldiers: continual firefights with enemy soldiers, disease, sleepless nights in mosquito-infested climates, ambushes, injury to fellow soldiers, and death. When his tour of duty in Vietnam ended in October of 1969, he returned to Winston-Salem. Six days after his arrival, Jones was involved in a car accident and sustained a severely broken leg that required surgery and months of hospital rehabilitation. In the summer of 1970, Jones was discharged from the U.S. military and enrolled that fall as a student at North Carolina A&T State University. However, as a result of a military record error, he was denied G.I. education bill funding and was forced to discontinue his studies. Upon leaving N.C. A&T State University, Jones worked as a store clerk and later a bus driver for the Experiment for Self-Reliance, a social aid program in Winston-Salem.

From 1971 to 1972, Jones had a series of episodes that included several arrests. He was admitted to a hospital for psychiatric care, where he was treated for Vietnam-induced Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. Upon his release, Jones became a long-distance truck driver. He later moved to Atlanta, GA, where he obtained a diploma in barbering and cosmetology. He then worked as a platform artist, trainer, and motivational speaker for three large cosmetology companies - Zoto's International, Clairol International, and La Marick's Beauty Corporation. Jones later opened and operated a hair salon in Charlotte, North Carolina, for over five years. In the summer of 1991, Jones closed his hair salon and enrolled in Winston-Salem State University. He graduated from Winston-Salem State University in 1996 with the B.A. degree in English. Following graduation, he was employed at the institution in several positions, including library stacks manager, Academic Resource Center computer lab manager, and English instructor. After 5 years at WSSU, he turned to work as a consulting editor and columnist for the AC Phoenix newspaper. In 2003 Jones began writing a book on his experiences during Vietnam and as a civilian, and began to pursue a career in Christian ministry.

Collection Overview

The Dwight Jones papers primarily consist of letters, including greeting cards, a telegram, and incomplete drafts, written by Jones to his mother and other family members from Vietnam. These materials document Jones' experiences as a combat soldier in Vietnam and his struggles to reconcile issues of racism within the military, national patriotism, and Black Nationalism. Common topics in the letters are Jones' combat activities, his physical health and safety, financial problems, requests for cigarettes and care packages, messages to friends back home, inquiries about loved ones and activities in Winston-Salem, and leave plans and experiences. Post-war materials document Jones' October 1969 car accident, his correspondence with the Army regarding disability and financial support, and the effects of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder he experienced. The collection also contains photographs of Jones taken in Vietnam, a biographical newspaper article, and miscellanea that provides insight into his life. These materials are arranged chronologically, with correspondence preceding other materials.

Online Catalog Headings Jones, Dwight A., 1948- . Vietnamese Conflict, 1961-1975--African Americans. Vietnamese Conflict, 1961-1975--Psychological aspects. Vietnamese Conflict, 1961-1975--Veterans--Mental health. Container List Dwight Jones Papers 1 1 Correspondence, May 28, 1968 2 Correspondence, October 8, 1968 3 Correspondence, October 15, 1968 4 Correspondence, October 21, 1968 5 Correspondence, November 6, 1968 6 Correspondence, November 10, 1968 7 Correspondence, November 17, 1968 8 Correspondence, November, 1968 9 Correspondence, November 24, 1968 10 Correspondence, November 28, 1968 11 Correspondence, December 6, 1968 12 Correspondence, December 17, 1968 13 Correspondence, December 20, 1968 14 Correspondence, December 23, 1968 15 Correspondence, December 30, 1968 16 Correspondence, 1968 17 Correspondence, January 27, 1969 18 Correspondence, January 30, 1969 19 Correspondence, February 2, 1969 20 Correspondence, February 4, 1969 21 Correspondence, February 23, 1969 22 Correspondence, March 10, 1969 23 Correspondence, April 16, 1969 24 Correspondence, April 28, 1969 25 Correspondence, ca. April 1969 26 Correspondence, May, 1969 27 Correspondence, May or June 1969 28 Correspondence, ca. July 1969 29 Correspondence, Aug. 1969 30 Correspondence, Aug. 1969 31 Correspondence, Aug or Sept. 1969 32 Correspondence, 1968 or 1969 33 Correspondence, 1968 or 1969 34 Correspondence, 1968 or 1969 35 Correspondence, 1968 or 1969 36 Correspondence, 1968 or 1969 37 Correspondence, 1968 or 1969 38 Correspondence, 1968 or 1969 39 Correspondence, 1968 or 1969 40 Correspondence, 1968 or 1969 41 Correspondence, 1968 or 1969 42 Correspondence, 1968 or 1969 43 Correspondence (Incomplete), 1968 or 1969 44 Correspondence (Incomplete), 1968 or 1969 45 Correspondence (Incomplete), 1968 or 1969 46 Correspondence (Incomplete), 1968 or 1969 47 Correspondence (Incomplete), 1968 or 1969 48 Correspondence, 1971 49 Correspondence, 1973 50 Correspondence, September 13, 1991 51 Correspondence, October 22, 1991 52 Correspondence, November 29, 1991 53 Correspondence, December 4, 1991 54 Greeting Card, c. 1968/1969 55 Greeting Card, c. 1968/1969? 56 Photographs, Feb. 1969 57 Forsyth County Dept. of Social Services Receipt, March 8, 1972 58 Newspaper Article, December 24, 1972 59 Prayer Leaflets, n.d. Photocopies (10 folders)