Army Staff Sgt. Jesse A. Ault

Died April 9, 2008 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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28, of Dublin, Va.; assigned to the 429th Brigade Support Battalion, Virginia Army National Guard, Roanoke, Va.; died April 9 in Baghdad from wounds sustained in Baghdad, Iraq, when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.

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Army Sgt. Jesse A. Ault remembered

The Associated Press

According to his family, Jesse A. Ault 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.

“Her number came up to go back for another tour,” said his father, Ron. “At the time, they were trying to get pregnant. He thought the best thing for him to do for his family was re-enlist. He went back in her place.”

Ault, 28, of Dublin, Va., died April 9 from wounds suffered in an explosion in Tunnis. He was a 1998 high school graduate and was assigned to Roanoke, Va.

A few months before he was deployed, Jesse and his wife, Betsy, 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.

He also is survived by sons Adam, 1, and Nathan, 10.

He loved all things University of West Virginia and Jeff Gordon, cheered for the Broncos and Braves and liked fishing and golf.

Ault’s mother, Ginny, said he liked to do everything.

“He lived wide open,” she said. “He packed a lifetime of adventures into 28 years.”