The war in Iraq has undoubtedly touched the lives of many in the local area, but none as personally as the Ault family who learned last week that Sgt. Jesse Adam Ault died April 9 while traveling to Baghdad, the victim of a roadside bomb.

A 1998 Tyler Consolidated High School graduate, Ault spent some of his formative years living in the Short Line area of Wetzel County and his mother, Virginia “Ginny” Billiter, lives in Paden City.

Ault served four years with the U.S. Army after graduating from TCHS. Upon completion of his contract, he joined the Virginia National Guard and met his wife, Sarah Elizabeth “Betsy”, while they were serving in the same unit.

The first time Jesse was in Iraq he provided security for convoys. This time he drove supply trucks from Kuwait. “He was the only one killed when it happened,” said Ginny.

After his first tour in Iraq, Jesse was discharged; Betsy, though, had time left to serve and was recalled for a second tour in Iraq.

A hero and a gentleman in every sense of the word, according to his family, Jesse re-enlisted in the Guard and took his wife’s place when she was recalled to active duty so she could stay home and care for their children.

The soldier told his father, Ron Ault who resides in Bethesda, Ohio, “I’ve got to do what’s best for my family.” According to Ron, it was his son’s nature to do anything for anybody.

A few months before he was deployed, Jesse and Betsy Ault learned they were expecting their third child. Rachel Ault was born Jan. 17, and was greeted by her proud father, who was able to return home for the birth of his daughter.

Also happy about the new addition to the family were Rachel’s two brothers — Adam, who is 15-months old, and Nathan, who is 10.

Although Jesse’s eldest son was not his by birth, Nathan loved his stepfather very much. “They were just like a son and father,” Ron said.

The family planned to move into a new house in Dublin, Va., where they reside, after Jesse’s return home from Iraq.

To those who knew him, Jesse was a loving, caring and adventurous young man. His mother, Ginny, said he liked to do everything.

“Usually, he wouldn’t learn the first time,” she said. “He was rotten and ornery.”

His zeal continued into adulthood.

“He lived wide open,” said Ginny, whose emotion was shared by Jesse’s stepfather, Eric. “He packed a lifetime of adventures into 28 years.”

In spite of his orneriness, Jesse loved his mother dearly.

“He was always the one who loved on me, came up and hugged me and kissed me,” she said. “He was such a good kid.”

He was also extremely protective of her, according to Eric. “The last thing he said to me was, ‘Take care of her,’” he said.

Jesse’s brother, Andrew “Drew” Ault, is only 13 months his senior.

“They were extremely close,” said their mother, although she pointed out the two were sort of opposites in life.

While Jesse had a passion for sports, participating in baseball and football at TCHS, Drew was enamored with all things musical and eventually became a high school band director in Tennessee.

When asked to share a vivid memory of her son, Ginny found it hard to pinpoint just one, but she felt that watching him jump out of an airplane during a special ceremony at Fort AP Hill, Va., was noteworthy. She described the sight of troops parachuting overhead as she smiled at the thought of her son’s spirit.

“You looked up and it was just like a swarm of them up in the sky,” she said, recalling a photograph that was taken that day of her son walking toward her. “Everyone thinks their kids are special, but Jesse was unforgettable. He knew how to have fun!”

The Billiters had been excited to hear that their son was due to come home on May 11, just in time for Mother’s Day, and they were comforted with the knowledge that Jesse would not be conducting any more convoy operations north of Kuwait after April 1.

But duty called and Jesse had one more mission on April 9.

Pausing to collect her thoughts, Ginny remembered the last conversation she had with her son that fateful day.

“I was visiting my daughter-in-law and grandchildren in Virginia when he called,” she said. “I am fortunate to have been able to talk to him. The last thing he told to me was, ‘I love you, Mama.’”

Jesse also attempted to contact his father, who said his son called him at least once a month while serving overseas.

Jesse had made it a point to call on Wednesday — his father’s birthday. He called twice that day but did not make contact with his father, who was in Pittsburgh with his wife at the time.

“All I got was a message,” Ron said.

The Billiters are now considering making their home in Dublin, Va., so they can help Betsy raise the children and share their lives with the woman who shared and celebrated Jesse’s life.

Before he left for Iraq, Jesse and his wife talked about where he would be buried if something happened to him. It was then that he expressed his desire to be buried in Virginia so he could be close to his children.