TRIUMPH THROUGH ADVERSITY: Fox News’ Johnny “Joey” Jones Marks 13 Years Since Injury, Declaring “I Chose to Live, Not Just Survive”

A Marine’s courage, a father’s faith, and a nation’s reminder that strength begins in the soul.

Thirteen years ago, on a sun-baked patch of dirt in Afghanistan, a young Marine named Johnny “Joey” Jones stepped forward to do the job he’d trained for — defusing a roadside bomb so that others could move safely.

He had done it dozens of times before. This time, he never saw the explosion coming.

The blast ripped through the air with bone-rattling force. Dust swallowed everything. When it cleared, Jones was lying on his back — his legs gone, his arms mangled, his life hanging by a thread.

“I remember feeling for my face to make sure it was still there,” he’s said many times since. “That’s how I knew I was alive.”

That moment — August 6, 2010 — could have been the end of his story.

Instead, it became the beginning.

This month, the Fox News contributor and Marine veteran marks 13 years since that life-changing day — what he calls his “Alive Day.”

And as he reflects on more than a decade of healing, service, and purpose, his message to others is as powerful as ever:

“I chose to live, not just survive.”

 

 

 

 

A Life Redefined

For Joey Jones, the difference between living and surviving isn’t just semantics — it’s everything.

He knows survival intimately. It’s what got him through 10 months of painful rehabilitation at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, learning to walk again on prosthetic legs and rebuild his body piece by piece.

But living — truly living — meant something deeper. It meant finding joy in fatherhood, purpose in storytelling, and peace in serving others.

“When I realized I was still here,” he told Fox viewers during a 2025 broadcast, “I made a decision. I could either be bitter about what I lost or thankful for what I still had. And once you start being thankful, you start to heal.”

That philosophy — gratitude over grief, purpose over pity — has defined every chapter of his life since.

 

 

 

 

The Moment That Changed Everything

The story of Joey Jones’ transformation begins with a mission that went wrong.

At just 24 years old, Staff Sergeant Jones was a highly skilled EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) technician — the Marines’ elite bomb disposal experts tasked with dismantling improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

He and his team had already found more than 30 IEDs in a single week while clearing a road in Safar Bazaar, Afghanistan.

Then came the explosion.

“We were tired, but we were good at what we did,” Jones recalled. “We thought we had another one handled. Then I stepped on it.”

The blast took both of his legs above the knee and severely injured his right arm. His best friend, Corporal Daniel Greer, was killed instantly.

Jones was evacuated by helicopter, his body broken but his spirit defiant.

“I remember thinking, ‘I’m not dying here,’” he later said. “If I get home, I’m going to make it mean something.”

From Hospital Bed to Hero’s Mission

At Walter Reed, Jones faced a long, grueling recovery — months of surgeries, physical therapy, and emotional rebuilding.

He called those early days “a battlefield of a different kind.”

“You learn that healing isn’t just about your body,” he said. “It’s about forgiving yourself for surviving. It’s about letting go of guilt and letting in hope.”

He leaned on his family, his faith, and the brotherhood of fellow wounded warriors.

“When I saw guys with worse injuries smiling, joking, moving forward — I realized I could, too,” he said.

That realization became the foundation for his second mission: to help others find the same strength.

 

 

 

 

A New Kind of Service

After medically retiring from the Marine Corps, Jones earned a degree from Georgetown University and began working as an advocate for wounded veterans. He advised the Department of Defense and helped shape programs supporting veteran rehabilitation, transition, and mental health.

But soon, a new opportunity emerged — one that would let him reach millions instead of dozens.

Television.

 

 

 

 

Finding His Voice on Fox News

Joey Jones joined Fox News Media in 2019, first as a military analyst and later as a full-time contributor and co-host on The Big Weekend Show.

His presence was immediate and unmistakable.

Viewers saw not just a commentator, but a man who had lived what he spoke about — from foreign policy to patriotism to the sacrifices of service.

“Joey brings something rare to television,” one Fox executive said. “He doesn’t perform. He connects.”

Whether discussing national security or small-town America, Jones became known for his calm conviction and emotional clarity.

“I’ve walked through fire,” he once told co-hosts. “So I don’t get rattled by debate. I’m just thankful for the chance to still have one.”

 

 

 

 

 

Choosing to Live

This year, marking 13 years since the blast, Jones posted a message that rippled across social media.

“I chose to live, not just survive.”

Those seven words summed up everything his journey had been about.

The post went viral, shared thousands of times by veterans, first responders, and everyday Americans who saw in Joey a reflection of their own struggles.

“He reminds us that scars aren’t the end of a story,” wrote one fan. “They’re proof that the story’s still being written.”

Jones elaborated on the meaning behind his message during a special Fox News segment.

“Every year, I look back at that day and remember the pain,” he said. “But then I think about my kids — about my wife — and I realize that living isn’t about what happens to you. It’s about what you do next.”

 

 

 

 

 

Family, Faith, and the Future

Joey Jones’ family is the heartbeat of his story.

He often speaks about his wife, Meg, who first knew him as a high school sweetheart in Georgia. The two reconnected years later, after his injury, and married in 2012.

“She saw the man, not the injuries,” Jones has said. “She made me believe I still had something to offer.”

Together they have two children, who often appear in his social media posts — fishing, laughing, climbing into their dad’s wheelchair for hugs.

“They don’t see me as different,” he said. “They see me as Dad.”

His faith, too, remains a cornerstone.

“God doesn’t promise you easy,” he once said on The Big Weekend Show. “He promises you purpose. I found mine.”

 

 

 

 

 

Alive Day: A Celebration of Life, Not Loss

Every August 6, Jones marks the anniversary of the explosion — not as a day of mourning, but as one of celebration.

He calls it his Alive Day, borrowing the term from the veteran community to describe the day a soldier survives a near-death experience.

On that day, he reaches out to other veterans, sharing words of encouragement and reflection.

“The pain never fully goes away,” he said during an interview at Walter Reed’s 2023 reunion event. “But neither does the gratitude. I don’t focus on what I lost. I focus on what I gained — perspective, purpose, and a platform to help others.”

For Jones, the platform is everything. It’s how he honors Greer, his fallen friend, and all those who never made it home.

“I live because they can’t,” he said. “That’s the deal I made with God when I opened my eyes after that blast.”

 

 

 

 

 

An Advocate for Veterans Nationwide

Beyond television, Jones continues to work tirelessly for veterans and their families.

He serves on the board of the Boot Campaign, a nonprofit providing therapy and resources for veterans with PTSD, brain injuries, and chronic pain.

He frequently visits schools, community centers, and military bases, delivering speeches about resilience and purpose.

“He’s one of those rare people who can walk into a room and make everyone feel seen,” said one fellow veteran. “Because he’s been where we’ve been — and he never forgets it.”

In 2025, he received the John R. Tex McCrary Award for Excellence in Journalism from the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, recognizing his work in giving voice to veterans through storytelling.

During his acceptance speech, Jones told the crowd:

“I thought my award days were over with the Purple Heart. But if this means I’ve used my platform to tell the stories of others — to shine light where it’s dark — then that’s the only award I’ll ever need.”

 

 

 

 

Inspiring a Nation

Joey Jones’ impact extends far beyond Fox News.

He’s become a sought-after public speaker, addressing corporate audiences, military graduations, and faith-based gatherings.

His message always circles back to the same idea: resilience isn’t about avoiding pain — it’s about transforming it.

“You can’t control what happens to you,” he often says. “But you can control what happens next.”

In an age of cynicism and outrage, his authenticity stands out.

“He’s the kind of person who reminds you that America still makes people like him,” said Gary Sinise, who hosted Jones at a 2025 veterans’ gala. “He’s what hope looks like with a Marine’s haircut.”

 

 

 

 

Looking Ahead

As he enters his 14th year since the explosion, Jones is far from slowing down. He’s currently writing his second book — a collection of essays on resilience, fatherhood, and patriotism — and working on new Fox Nation specials spotlighting ordinary heroes across America.

“There’s so much good out there,” he said. “You just have to look for it.”

He’s also working on expanding his mentorship network for young veterans transitioning to civilian life — an idea he says came from a simple truth: “The battle doesn’t end when the war does.”

 

 

 

 

The Legacy of Choosing Life

Thirteen years later, the scars remain — the visible and the invisible ones. But Joey Jones wears them with pride.

They are, he says, “proof that grace is real.”

When he looks back on that August morning in Afghanistan, he doesn’t see loss. He sees purpose.

“People think I’m lucky to be alive,” he said during a 2025 interview. “They’re right. But luck doesn’t explain it all. You have to choose life. Every single day.”

It’s a choice that’s carried him through dark moments, through hospital beds and television studios, through doubt and faith and everything in between.

And as he reflects on 13 years of second chances, his words — spoken softly, but with unmistakable conviction — say it all:

“I chose to live, not just survive.”

 

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

In a culture that often celebrates fame and flash, Johnny “Joey” Jones stands as something rarer — a man who turned tragedy into testimony.

His story isn’t just about war or recovery. It’s about the human capacity to find meaning in the wreckage, to rebuild when everything seems lost, and to use that strength to lift others higher.

He’s a reminder that real heroes don’t need capes or applause. Sometimes, they just need courage — and a choice.

As America marks his 13th Alive Day alongside him, one truth rings louder than any explosion could:

Johnny “Joey” Jones didn’t just survive Afghanistan. He conquered it — one step, one story, one day at a time.