An American Motorcycle Diary

Her grey hair is thick, full and  cut perfectly to frame her face. She has no noticeable furrows, brow lines or wrinkles in her skin, which has a soft and smooth appearance. She has avoided the pitfalls of spending to much time  in the sun. She is articulate, choosing her words wisely. She presents herself as comfortable and confident. We are sitting on wrought iron furniture on the front lawn of her modest brick home, under a tree, while the sun is low in the sky. If not for the hanging branches, the sun would be in her eyes. I am sweating profusely from my forehead with small gnats buzzing around my eyes. She sits with a coolness and calmness, I envy. She is pleasant and relaxed but understandably cautious during our interview.

Rebecca  Jones has been married to Kenneth Jones for thirty nine years. During their marriage they had four children, Angela, Kenneth, Kamlyn and Kevin. Rebecca’s younger daughter, Kamlyn is a physician in Virginia.

Rebecca Jones is acquainted with tragedy as her oldest child, Angela was twenty seven when she lost her battle with cancer. Kevin was the youngest, and something of a surprise. Her love for each of her each her children was evident but as with all children in all families each one has a unique  character. Rebecca Jones described Kevin as the child that “unified the family”,” the one that pulled the family together.”  

All of the children were accustomed to the military as Rebecca’s husband, Kenneth, served in the Naval Reserve for thirty years before retiring. Three of the children including Kevin participated in the Junior ROTC while in high school. Kevin was caring, he was compassionate, he cared for the underdog. He was a firefighter and became an EMT just before he left to serve in the military. He had a good attitude about his enlistment and believed that what ever happened was “Gods Plan.” 

Rebecca has a strong belief in God. When she was six years old she found Christ and has held her belief in God and Christ since then. She believes that she can rely  on God, and that God either ordains or allows all that happens for a good reason. Kevin truly believed that also. 

Kevin was a corporal assigned to the 181st Transportation Battalion. He was fatally wounded on 9/22/o5 after an Improvised Explosive Device detonated near the support truck he was in. He was twenty one years old and the 37th serviceman, who referred to North Carolina as his home to be killed in the Iraq war. Before his death, he made plans to start a trucking business with his brother, Kenneth. Kenneth who served in the marines has started a trucking business, fulfilling the dream he and Kevin set forth before his death.  

Kevin had pride in his country and the willingness to serve in the armed forces. He understood that there were no guarantees. His mother has comfort in knowing that Kevin believed in what he was doing and that he had a sense of doing the right thing.

Her  last contact with Kevin was by telephone when he called at about three or four in the morning. He died nine days later.  It has been her strong belief in God that has helped carry her through the difficult times. She has cried to herself to sleep on many occasions since his death. The only difference now is that she cries less often and for less time.

The pain and the grief still lingers. Not a not a day goes by when she doesn’t think of Kevin and Angela, and inspite of it all, her faith in God remains resolute.  It is her conviction that they will be with each other again as a family in the after life.