FRED JONES
Real Name: Fred Jones
Identity/Class: Human (World War II era)
Occupation: Soldier, former college football player
Group Membership: Howling Commandos (Isadore "Izzy" Cohen, Timothy "Dum-Dum" Dugan, Nick Fury, Gabe Jones, Eric Koenig, Dino Manelli, Percival "Pinky" Pinkerton, Robert "Reb" Ralston)
Affiliations: Henri Gendron, Sam Sawyer
Enemies: Eva Braun, Colonel Bryon Kritzberg
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Able Company base, England
First Appearance: Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos#81 (November, 1970)
Powers/Abilities: Fred Jones was an impressive football player who transferred many of his skills into his career as a soldier, hurling grenades with the same precision he would a football. He carried a machine gun, and had been trained as a commando.
History: (Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos#81) - Fred Jones was an All-American quarterback for a college in Missouri during World War II, and was on a fast-track to the NFL with his star performance on the field. Jones received an offer from the Chicago Bears, but put it on hold when he was drafted into the U.S. army. Jones' college coach was upset to see Jones taken out of the game by the army, and warned him that he was throwing away his career, but Jones was determined to perform his duty for his country.
Jones spent twelve weeks in basic training, and was then assigned to serve in Captain Sam Sawyer's First Attack Squad ("the Howling Commandos"). The Howlers were impressed to have Jones on their squad, all of them having admired his career, and he soon proved himself in combat. Captain Sawyer awarded him the Bronze Star for his efforts.
When the Allies' received information on the whereabouts of Hitler's lover Eva Braun as she vacationed in France, Sawyer assigned the Howling Commandos to kidnap her. As they were flown to the site of Braun's chateau, Jones told the others that he was nervous in a way he hadn't been since before the only football game he ever lost, and Sgt. Fury had to remind him that they were playing for stakes much higher than any game.
The Howlers met up with Henri Gendron, who led them to the Chateau L'Etoile, where Braun was. They came upon Braun while she was bathing, and attacked her guards. Braun ran for the chateau with the Howlers in pursuit, leading them straight to Colonel Kritzberg, the officer in charge of protecting her. When Fury caught Braun, Kritzberg tried to shoot him, but Jones attacked him, and the two shot each other. Fury was forced to let Braun go in order to see to Jones, and they returned to England without Braun.
Jones presented Captain Sawyer with a set of plans which had fallen out of Kritzberg's pocket, revealing that the entire affair with Braun was intended as a distraction so that the Allies would be unaware that they preparing to build a V-2 missile launch site. Jones had reason to be proud of his actions, but he had lost half of his right leg from Kritzberg's bullets, ending his career as a soldier and as a quarterback.
Comments: Created by Al Kurzrok, Dick Ayers and John Severin.
Kritzberg's first name was revealed in Marvel Atlas#1.
by
CLARIFICATIONS:
Fred Jones should not be confused with:
Henri Gendron was a seventeen-year old French boy who could also speak English and German. His father had resisted the Germans when they occupied his family's chateau, Chateau L'Etoile. His father was killed by the Germans, and his mother was forced to become a servant of Colonel Kritzberg. Henri assisted G-2 intelligence, and would go undercover as a German soldier to obtain information. He helped bring the Howling Commandos to the chateau when they attempted to capture Eva Braun. After parting company with them, Henri found two Germans had discovered the Howlers' parachutes atop a nearby cliff. Knowing that if he shot them, it would expose the Howlers' presence, Henri hurled himself and the two Germans off the cliff, to their deaths. Henri's mother died during the Howlers' firefight at the chateau.
--Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos#81
Colonel Kritzberg was the German officer assigned to protect Eva Braun while secretly preparing the area around Chateau L'Etoile to be a V-2 missile launch site. When the Howling Commandos came to kidnap Eva Braun, he fought back, and was shot to death by Fred Jones. Kritzberg shot at Jones as he died, and Jones lost half of his right leg as a result. Papers that Jones took from Kritzberg exposed his plans to the Allies.
--Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos#81
Images taken from:
Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos#81, cover
Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos#81, page 20, panel 6
Henri- Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos#81, page 15, panel 5
Kritzberg- Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos#81, page 19, panel 7
Appearances:
Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos#81 (November, 1970) - Al Kurzrok (writer), Dick Ayers (penciler), John Severin (inker), Stan Lee (editor)
Last updated: 06/12/05
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