Thomas R. Jones, Sr. began his military service in the United States Army in 1943 December with basic training at Fort McPherson in Georgia. Before joining Allied Forces in the European theatre of World War II, he also completed training at Fort McClellan in Alabama, Camp Shelby in Mississippi, and Fort Meade in Maryland. The United States Army deployed Private First Class Jones in 1944 on the S.S. Argentina to serve with the United States Army 3rd Armored Spearhead Division. He was wounded in combat shortly before the end of the war and was honored a Purple Heart, a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President of the United States to those wounded or killed while serving. He returned home in 1945 December and joined his wife, Mary Mildred Jones, who was living in Cleveland, Tennessee with their young son, T. Roy Jones at the time.