Geoffrey Montogmery Talbot Jones ’42

Geoffrey Montgomery Talbot Jones, a survivor of heroic service during World War II, died of malignant melanoma July 20, 2007, in New York City.

Jeff came to Princeton from Andover. At Princeton he was a member of Theatre Intime and the editorial board of The Tiger. His major was politics.

Immediately after graduation Jeff was called into service as a second lieutenant with the 82nd Airborne Division. In 1944 he transferred to the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). In July of that year, dressed as a French laborer, he parachuted behind German lines in the Basse Alps, replacing an operative who had been picked up by the Gestapo. In this capacity he made contact with French resistance groups, helped coordinate their activities, and reported by radio about German movements in the area. Subsequently, he and fellow resisters drove through German lines and joined up with the invading Americans.

After the war, Jeff worked in advertising and public relations in New York. In addition he organized the Veterans of OSS and served as the group's president for 23 years. For his wartime service he was recognized with the Croix de Guerre three times, the U.S. Legion of Merit, and the Order of the British Empire. He also was named an officer of the French Légion d'honneur.