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Family members say Michael Jones of Unity died in New York after surgery for an intestinal blockage.

by Gregory D. Kesich Staff writer March 7, 2008

Maine soldier died Thursday in a New York hospital, just as members of his unit celebrated their return home after a year in Iraq.

Sgt. 1st Class Michael Jones, 43, of Unity, fell sick shortly after arriving at Fort Drum, N.Y., on Feb. 23 and was rushed to University Hospital in Syracuse. He underwent emergency surgery for an apparent intestinal blockage, according to a family member.

The Army flew his wife, Lori Jones, to be with him on Feb. 25, said Guard spokesman Maj. Peter Rogers. Jones' condition worsened and he died Thursday after a second operation.

News of Jones' death reached members of the Maine Army National Guard 133rd Engineer Battalion just as some of them were attending welcome home parties with their families after their long deployment. The battalion, with just over 500 soldiers, was like a big family, Rogers said, and everyone knew about Jones' condition.

"Even though we knew he was ill, it really shook the force" to hear of his death, Rogers said. "You sort of breathe a sigh of relief that they are truly out of harm's way. . . . To come back to something like this just doesn't seem right."

Spc. Chris Shedyak, a fellow Unity resident and friend for 20 years, described Jones as "solid as a rock."

"Nothing rattled him under pressure. He was the type of person who got the job done, and his demeanor didn't change," Shedyak said. "It wouldn't stop him from butting heads with the leadership, especially when it came to his troops. He looked out for his men." In civilian life, Jones worked as a truck driver, said his daughter Alissa, 18. Jones also had a son Adam, 19, and a daughter Amy Corson, 23, also of Unity. He had one grandchild, Kaylee Corson, 3, "who was his world," said Alissa Jones.

Rogers could not confirm the details of Jones' medical condition. Jones' sister-in-law, Cindy Jones, told the Central Maine Morning Sentinel that he had emergency surgery for an intestinal blockage shortly after he arrived in the United States and that doctors discovered blood clots at the time. He had additional surgery last weekend, but his condition continued to worsen.

Blood clots can cause an intestinal blockage by damaging the ability of the intestine to function, much as blood clots damage the brain or heart when those organs are involved, said Michael Baumann, Maine Medical Center's associate chief of emergency medicine. Intestinal blockages are most often caused by scarring within the abdomen from prior surgeries but can also be caused by diseases.

While the condition may only cause vague pain at first, it can be extremely serious because the walls of the intestine can break down, and bacteria can enter the bloodstream.

"Everything outside (the bowel) is sterile. . . . If it breaks down that barrier or it leaks through a rupture or weak spot . . . those people do very poorly," Baumann said. "A blood clot to the gut will often cause that to happen unless it's picked up right away."

Gov. John Baldacci issued a statement saying that flags would be flown at half staff on the day of Jones' funeral. "Michael served his state and his nation honorably and all of Maine mourns his loss," Baldacci said.

U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe also issued a statement. "We will forever remember his honorable and courageous service," she said.

Jones was a member of the 133rd's A Company, which returned to Belfast on Wednesday. The battalion's B Company arrived in Westbrook the same day. Two more companies are expected to return today and Saturday.

The battalion was stationed near Mosul in northern Iraq, and its mission included rebuilding roads, bridges, schools and community buildings. The unit also worked to secure polling places for Iraq's national election on Jan. 30.

With more than 500 soldiers, the 133rd was the largest Maine unit in Iraq and represented the largest deployment...