FALLSBURG – PFC Zackary Jones, of Fallsburg, went right from high school graduation, just over a year ago, to the Army recruiting office. A few months later, he was in Afghanistan.
This past Monday, he returned for a few weeks of leave, with family and friends.
His dad, Scott Jordy, a Fallsburg police officer, told him they were stopping at town hall on Thursday, to meet fellow officers. He did not tell him that waiting in the adjacent courtroom, were about 20 family and friends, for a surprise party.
Jones said he was indeed surprised, and delighted they did this for him.
Jones, accompanied by dad (right) who arranged the party
Jones, on duty in Afghanistan
That wasn’t the first surprise associated with his leave. Jones said he wasn’t sure, until the last minute, whether a new assignment would get in the way.
“We were all kind of excited but we didn’t think it was going to happen but then, last minute they’re like ‘yup, we’re actually going home’.”
Home is where he’ll stay until mid-January.
Then, back to Afghanistan?
“It could be,” Jones said. “We’re not a hundred percent sure, like it’s too far to project, really, but that’s where we’re rumored.”
He’ll take whatever comes, said his father. Jordy said the military regimen set in at an early age.
“From probably like four or five years old, he used to run around in his little military uniforms and it’s always been something he wanted to do, so I knew that no matter what career path he takes, this was always part of it,” Jordy said.
After the media interviews, it was party time in the courtroom. The judge’s bench became a temporary buffet table stocked with sandwiches and sodas.
