So in some respect Robert Jones time there is confirmed. While Robert Jones should be noted as a common name. However there was only one African America born in 1904 with that name and the only African American by that that name enlisted in 1941.
He was 38 year old at time of enlistment. reference to him can be found in WW2 draft card Index and in US Army enlistment records 1938-1946.
However here is some thing curious Robert Jones claimed as per the life magazine story that Sam Mays died in Italy?
In fact I found out quite a bit about Sam Mays in fact his full name is Samuel P Mays.
Samuel P Mayes
Date of birth 1921
African American
Place of residence unknown
Place of enlistment Jacksonville Florida
Married single
Civilian job Porter
His career was in 593 field artillery During the period 15 May 1942 to 31 January 1944, the Battalion conducted a complete training cycle in preparation for overseas movement. After this training, the Battalion moved from Fort Huachuca to Essex, California, with the 93rd Infantry Division, participated in Army Forces tests at Iron Mountain and departed for Camp Stoneman on 25 January 1944.
Next move was to Fort Mason, San Francisco, on 30 January 1944 and on the next day, the unit boarded the USS Willard A. Holbrook for the voyage overseas. The Battalion crossed the equator on 8 February 1944, and disembarked on Kokumbona Beach, Guadalcanal, on 17 February 1944.
On 26 March, 1944 the 593rd departed Guadalcanal as part of the 25th Regiment Combat Team and arrived in Yorokina, Bougaineville, on 28 March 1944. On arrival the unit was attached to Americal Division Artillery by the formation of an artillery battalion group with the 246th Field Artillery Battalion. During the Bougaineville campaign, the 593rd was in direct support of the 25th Infantry, fired missions in support of the 182nd Infantry and 93rd Provisional Brigade.
On 15 July 1944 the 593rd departed Bougaineville for Green Island for advance training and maintenance preparatory to movement to Finsch-hafen, New Guinea, in February 1945. The Battalion moved on to Hollandia, and further, to Morotai, Netherland East Indies. On Morotai the unit was placed in direct support of the Second Battalion, 268th Infantry Division. Still later, the unit proceeded to Mindanao, Philippine Islands, and by 15 December 1945, the men started departing for disposition to the States. Battalion Commander, Staff, and battery commanders were relieved of assignment and duty 4 January 1946.The 593rd was deactivated on 3 February 1946.
Samuel Mays lived through the war and was never sent to Italy only the Pacific theater. He lived later in life in Detroit where he died in 1991. His two addresses he was living at this address in 1983, 5080 Harding St Detroit.
Later he died at 1489 Chelsea St Detroit in 1991 below.
He was the only African American Samuel (Sam) Mays who enlisted in 1941 and would have been there at the same time as Robert Jones. Ironic is it not Mays could of confirmed Jones discovery, yet it was no so.
As for Mays he at least did not seem to profit from any alleged discovery.
So the Life magazine story does have a bit more scope to get to the details.
Crow