Jones, Steven E. (P3, C1, L23)

Private Steven Edgar Jones of DeMossville, Pendleton County, died on 29 April 1984 while training with his unit, Company C, 201st Engineer Battalion in Cynthiana.

Jones was died as a result of injuries received in an accident at the armory when the unit was training on erecting and using gin poles.

The accident happened at approximately 11:20 a.m. on Sunday, 29 April 1984 during drill weekend. Jones was participating in a class on knots and rigging and using a gin pole as a lifting device. Jones was part of the team raising a 20 foot pole when the lifting device was being assembled. One of the two back guy ropes failed when a block lashing came failed. As the pole fell it was pulled off center by the second back guy rope. Jones was unable to escape the falling pole and was struck.

He was given immediate aid by members of the 475th Combat Support Hospital who were at the armory, he was transported to the hospital but perished from his injuries a short time later.

Jones had just joined the unit on 2 March of 1984 and was training with the unit until he got orders sending him to basic and advanced training as a Combat Engineer.

Guardsman Killed

Falmouth Outlook page 1 May 4, 1984

Pvt. Steven E. Jones, 19, of Route 1, Demossville, was killed in the Kentucky Army National Guard Armory in Cynthiana, Sunday, April 29th, 1984.

Steve was born in Kentucky on August 31, 1964. The son of Lilburn and Ruth Gelter Jones. He was a member of the National Guard.
Steve was a member of Grassy Creek Christian Church. He was married to Christy Bush, who survives, December 31, 1981.

He is survived by wife, Christy, son, Darrick, parents Lulburn and Ruth Jones, two brothers. Dan of Newport, and David of Ft. Hood, Texas, three sisters, Vickey Weekbach, Alexandria, KY., Karen Teegarden and Patty Thornberry both of Demossville.

Witnesses said a rope lashing came loose at the National Guard Armory at Cynthiana as a pole was being hoisted out of the hands of Pvt. Jones and several other guardsmen. the exercise was part of a rigging class. Private Jones was administered first aid at the scene and was taken to Harrison Memorial Hospital in Cynthiana where he was pronounced dad at 11:55 a.m.

A member of the National Guard since March 2nd, Private Jones a recruit, was awaiting entry into active duty for basic and advanced individual duty.

A formal investigation of the accident will begin immediately according to Lt. Col. Larry C. Barker, commander of the 201st Engineering Battalion, parent unit of Company C in Cynthiana.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, May 2, at Grassy Creek Christian Church at 1 p.m. conducted by his pastor, Rev. Wm. W. Hancock. Burial will take place at Peach Grove Cemetery under the direction of Peoples Funeral Home, Butler.