Alexa Jones

12/2/10

Leland Jones, a Written History

We are lucky to have so many people that are brave enough to put their lives on the line to defend our country. Leland spent one year training in the U.S, Coastguard Academy in Connecticut. He was born on July 7, 1964 in Tucson, AZ. His parents, Dick and Diane Jones are both currently living in Benson, Arizona. They must be so proud of him. The Coast Guard Academy is a hard school to get into, and the year he spent there greatly affected his life.

Before Leland Richard Jones applied for the U.S. Coastguard Academy, he attended Benson Union high school for four years. Leland was on sports teams, had lots of extracurricular activities, and had exceptional SAT scores. He graduated high school with honors and an acceptance letter to the school. “There were three thousand applicants my freshman year, and I was one of the lucky three hundred that were selected.” (Leland Jones) That summer he worked at home, helping his parents finish building a boat, that they would sail from Long Beach, to San Diego, California. “I truly enjoyed working on that boat with my dad for four years. It brought us much closer than we already were.” (Leland Jones) Leland might have thought he had an exciting life before, but it was just going to get better.

Leland first arrived at the school in June. He started with eight weeks of physical training, in which they woke up at five every morning and lights out was at nine-thirty. Before the school year actually started, he and his classmates took a ten-day cruise on The Eagle. “As summer came to an end, I felt sad. However I was also relieved that classes were to start soon.” (Leland JOnes) In August, the college classes began at the Academy, along with the physical training. He was a diver on their swim team, and held the record time for the obstacle course. Leland was only a freshman, so he probably wasn't the most popular person; upperclassmen had the freshman clean their rooms and were harsh while inspecting other peoples' dorms to make sure they were neat. They knew that someone's bed was not made properly if they could not bounce a quarter on it. “Maybe that's why I feel it's important to make sure my kids' beds are made and their rooms are clean every day.” (Leland Jones) Leland loved being at that school, but did not want to serve the five years required in the Coastguard if he graduated. He resigned after his freshman year, to move on and find a new carreer.

Being in the Coast Guard Academy really changed Leland's life. Not only was he in better physical shape but, “I gained more self-confidence, and met and became friends with people from all over the world.” (Leland Jones) For the restof his college years, Leland attended Northern Arizonia University in Flagstaff. There, he majored in Civil Engineering and Geology. While at NAU, Leland started dating Stephanie Ann Konen. They had met at the community pool in Benson, where they both had summer jobs as lifeguards. After dating for three years, Leland moved out to San Diego, and Stephanie transferred from U of A to SDSU so they could get married. Twenty two years later, here they are. Old, and not so wrinkely, with two wonderful daughters. “If I had to name the three happiest days of my life, they would be this: one, when I bent down on one knee and heard he say 'Yes!' two, when our first (and favorite) child was born, Alexa Rae. Three, when steph gave life to our second (and hopefully last) daughter, Sydney Michelle. My life is definitely not perfect, (especially now that my oldest is a teenager with an innummerable amounts of needs) but I wouldn't change it for the world.” (Leland Jones)

Leland Jones may not have served in the actual coastguard but being in the coastguard academy changed his life for the better. Instead of an officer in the Navy, he turned out to be a blasting consultant with his own buisness, a great husband and the best fafther in the world. He, as many people would, says, “I'm the luckiest guy in the whole world.” (Leland Jones)