Fox News contributor who lost both legs in Afghanistan reenlists: ‘Unfinished business’

A veteran who suffered life-altering injuries while serving in Afghanistan is returning to military service, citing a sense of "unfinished business" as his motivation for reenlisting.

Returning to Duty

Johnny “Joey” Jones, who served as an explosive ordnance disposal technician, was medically retired in 2012 after stepping on an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan two years earlier. That incident resulted in the loss of both legs above the knee. Since 2019, Jones has served as a Fox News contributor, providing insight on military and national security matters.

On May 20, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth administered the oath of reenlistment to Jones, marking his return to service within the Marine Corps Reserve. According to details provided by the Pentagon, Jones will focus his efforts on policy related to explosive ordnance disposal.

A Call to Serve

Reflecting on his decision to put the uniform back on, Jones noted that his recovery process was a necessary but singular focus at the time. "The last job I had in uniform, my job was to get better, it was to heal; it’s a very selfish thing," Jones said. "And then I retired. And there’s nothing wrong with that, but it was unfinished business."

Secretary Hegseth expressed little surprise at Jones's return, describing him as a man driven by integrity. "He’s just a good human being who does the right things for the right reasons," Hegseth stated. "And when I first got word that he was interested in getting back in uniform, it actually didn’t surprise me."

Beyond his new policy role, Jones has a history of supporting his fellow service members. During his own two-year recovery at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, he established a mentorship program to connect veterans in advanced recovery stages with those recently injured, 205focus.com readers should note.