All photographs on this page are courtesy of Merle Jones unless otherwise marked

Private Merle Jones in 1941 basic training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

Fort Sill, Oklahoma barracks in 1941.

Cpl. Jones appointment as staff sergeant on 2 September 1942 at Camp Gruber, Oklahoma.

Unknown soldiers of the 202nd F.A. Bn. in Europe 1944 or 1945.

Command vehicles of the 202nd Field Artillery Battalion at XV Corps HQ probably in France 1944.

Officers of the Deuce-O-Deuce in Europe 1944 or 1945. Officer in center rear believed to be Lt. Colonel Tom Lewis.

First Sergeant Merle Jones with one of the Battalion's two Piper L-4 "Grasshopper" observation and liaison aircraft in Europe 1944 or 1945.  It has "GINGER" painted on the fuselage. We are attempting to determine which pilot this one belonged to.  The only reference to a "Ginger" that we have found so far, is the Ginger who was the assistant manager of Service Club No. 1 at Camp Howze, Texas in late 1944, before the Battalion was shipped off to Europe.

Aerial reconnaissance photograph of the 202nd Field Artillery Battalion showing damage to buildings in France or Germany 1944 or 1945.

Soldiers of the 202nd Field Artillery Battalion in Europe 1944 or 1945.  S/Sgt. Newton "Doc" Edwards of the Medical Detachment (front center) and T/5 David L. Mudge, Jr. of HQ Battery (behind Edwards).

Hitler's bombed Berghof at Obersalzberg, Austria in May 1945.  In addition to Captain Harold Brown and T/5 David L. Mudge, Jr., at least one other member of the Deuce, Corporal Russell M. Whitman, visited the residence.  Photo courtesy of Russell Whitman. 

First Sgt. Brown O. Shelton of "C" Battery.  Circa 1944 or 1945 in the ETO.  Photo from the Harold Brown collection.

Capt. Charles E. Walker, 202nd F.A. Bn. Assistant S-3 (Operations Officer). Circa early 1945 in France or Germany. Photo from the Harold Brown collection.

Pvt. Merle Jones at Fort Sill circa 1941

Battery "A" 202nd Field Artillery Battalion baseball team at Camp Gruber, Oklahoma 1943.

2 1/2-ton, 6X6, kitchen truck of the Deuce with a Browning, Heavy Barrel, Cal. .50, M2 Machine Gun (you don't want to insult their cooking).

Men of the 202nd F.A. Bn. in Europe 1944 or 1945 with S/Sgt Elmore Johns on far right.

First Sergeant Merle Jones with 202nd F.A. Bn. command vehicles at XV Corps HQ probably in France 1944.

Unknown 202nd F.A. Bn. corporal in Europe 1944 or 1945.

Staff Sergeant Newton O. "Doc" Edwards of the Deuce's Medical Detachment in France or Germany 1944 or 1945.

Ship that First Sergeant Merle Jones came home on in September 1945.

Stationary Letterhead  1942

Map of Obersalzberg, Austria with Hitler's Berghof at bottom center.  This US military issued map ca. 1945 was carried folded in the pocket of T/5 David L. Mudge, Jr.

Captain Harold Brown the Battalion Intelligence Officer (S-2) at Camp Gruber, OK in 1942 or 1943.  Photo from the Harold Brown collection.

1st Lt. John Florence the Battalion Surgeon ca. 1945 in Germany. He joined the Battalion in December 1944 and was promoted to captain in May 1945. Photos from the Harold Brown collection.