LouJuan "Taz" Jones

I know Loujuan through his ex wife Nyo. Nyo is my sister. My husband and I remember his BBQ skills. Rest on peace Loujuan. His legacy will go on and we will keep memories and him in our hearts.

The most remarkable friend we’ve ever had🙏🏽 Rest well until we see you again. Your friends Sonya and Latonya.

I first met Taz in Korea in 1995, and we spent most of my 8 years of service in the same units from Okinawa, Camp Pendleton, Urban Warfare training, and a deployment with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. He attained the rank of Staff Sergeant, and he always looked out for his Marines, even when they didn’t realize it. He was a graduate of Jump school and SERE School and was a member of the All-Marine Rugby team. There are so many stories I could tell but I will say if you’re ever in a bad situation, he was a good guy to have in your corner. Father, Husband, Marine, Brother, rest easy Taz, I know you’re with Lori now. See you in Valhalla.

Taz was my Platoon Guide in BTO Company and then my Landing Support Chief for nearly two years at MSSG-11. We were also teammates on the Camp Pendleton and All-Marine Rugby teams. His single-minded focus on Mission Accomplishment made him an exceptional Marine, and he could be relied on to take care of his people. We spoke our minds to each other, essential to a good Officer/SNCO relationship (I remember a nose to nose conversation in the middle of the night at Camp Wilson...) I am forever grateful for the partnership Taz and I had, and I am proud to have served beside him.

I first met LouJuan while working at the Marine Corps recruiting substation on West Grand Ave in Oakland. Though the exact year escapes me, I vividly recall how he stood apart from the other applicants; not only was he truly fit, which was a rarity, but he also played rugby, a sport few chose over football. We bonded during the initial qualification process for the Marine Corps. I was the one to take him to get any necessary paperwork. I was also the one to deliver him to the airport when he shipped out for boot camp. Our paths crossed again in the First and Third Longshorman platoons, where we quickly became inseparable. So much so, our fellow platoon members affectionately called us “me” and “me too,” because wherever one of us went, the other was sure to follow.
Beyond our shared service, he became like a brother to me. Our bond extended far beyond work. We spent countless hours driving, sightseeing in Tijuana and Korea, and clubbing together during the early ’90s. There were times when he would sleep on my couch simply because nowhere else felt right. He had a key to my house, stood beside me as the best man at my wedding, and was present the night my first son was born.
Though life led us down separate paths for many years, we reconnected in 2019 and instantly picked up where we left off. Every conversation brought a smile to my face and made me feel young again. The impact he had on my life is immeasurable and everlasting. Of all the friends I have known, he was, and will always be, my best friend, my brother. He will be deeply missed but never forgotten.