Word: thom
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Dates: during 1990-1999
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Last Saturday they buried Thom Jenkins beneath the soaring pines of California's Sierra Nevada. As silence again envelops Dudley Cemetery, echoes of a U.S. Navy chaplain's words linger: "Thomas Allen Jenkins, your sacrifice will not be forgotten. Your courage stands as a beacon of liberty. You exemplify the U.S. Marine Corps motto, 'Semper Fidelis...
...cities may be able to absorb the death of one young man with indifference, but in places like Coulterville (pop. 115) the loss strikes home with intense personal force. "If I could trade for Thom, I'd do it," says the distraught Marine who helped recruit him. "Poor...
...Joyce Jenkins' front porch with the horrible news about their only son, the word blazed across these drought-stricken mountains like a runaway forest fire. The close-knit community of this historic gold-mining town, one of simple values and sturdy folk, circled its wagons around the family, including Thom's sister Jamie, 19, in a show of patriotism and support. But the Jenkins' selfless stoicism is even more telling. "Our boy came home, and we know exactly where he's at," says Joyce, 39, who drives a school bus. "But there's lots of other men and women over...
American flags and yellow ribbons adorn almost every house, pole, tree and car antenna in Coulterville, for here patriotism is a solemn duty. These people despise antiwar protesters, and they consider few acts more heinous than flag burning. So if anyone here believes Thom died in vain, he is keeping it to himself. "People do view him as a hero," says Tom, 42, who works for the state transportation department. "To me, he's my son." Tom has only simple requests. "Please be kind," he asks. "Please be honest. Don't be too big, because it's not real...