SHEPPARD AFB, Texas (WLNS) – Air Force Staff Sgt. Joe Jones was promoted to technical sergeant in front of his squadron and a very special guest late last month.

Retired Army Capt. Joe Jones came out to see his grandson get promoted along with an entourage of other family members.

“Him being here is way more special than any stripe I have,” Tech. Sgt. Jones said. “It’s a really good opportunity since he’s 96. It’s just amazing. The first time he’s seen me promote was in basic training. This is going to be on the top of my Air Force career.”

Capt. Jones was part of Gen. George Patton’s Third Army in France, Austria, and Germany.

He served in the 71st Division, 14th Infantry, Company B where he was the leader of a rifle platoon and later a weapons platoon.

Tech. Sgt. Jones, who works in the 80th Flying Training Wing’s flight records section, according to Senior Airman Pedro Tenorio, 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs.

After the ceremony, members of the 80th FTW spoke with the elder Jones to hear some of his stories first hand before they return home.

“He loves being around everybody in uniform,” the younger Jones said. “He’s also starting to talk a lot about his war stories and I thought it’d be special to get everybody to hear it from him.”

U.S. Army Capt. (Ret) Joe Jones and his son Jim Jones, talk with 80th Flying Training Wing members at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, Feb. 28, 2020. Jones is a World War II veteran and served in Gen. George Patton’s Third Army. He was at first a rifle platoon leader and then a weapons platoon leader (in charge of three 30. cal machine guns and three 60 mm mortars.) Jones has seen combat in France and Germany. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Pedro Tenorio)