Fort Wainwright soldier remembered for sense of humor, loyalty
Published Thursday, December 11, 2008
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FAIRBANKS — 1st Lt. William Keith Jernigan came to the Army later than most soldiers.
While many join the military around the age of 18, soon after they become eligible to enlist, Jernigan didn’t join until the age of 28.
He joined soon after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. He was living in a commune in British Columbia, Canada, but the attacks on the homeland strongly affected him, so he returned to the U.S. to join the Army.
“He saw the attacks and decided he needed to do something to serve like thousands of other people decided,” said Maj. Glenn Gambrell, rear detachment commander for Fort Wainwright’s 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry.
The Army was Jernigan’s calling, and those who knew him best remembered him at a memorial service Wednesday on base as someone who died doing what he loved.
Jernigan, 35, died Nov. 24 in Baquba, Iraq, as a result of injuries he sustained in a non-combat related incident.
The Army has not released any other details about the incident.
Jernigan enlisted as a private and was quickly promoted to sergeant. After obtaining his associate degree, the Georgia native enrolled in Officer Candidate School and made lieutenant, serving as a military intelligence officer.
The lieutenant sometimes came across as a rough-and-tumble character. Gambrell recounted one incident in which several soldiers were surprised to see Jernigan eating yogurt with a knife.
“He immediately struck me as the type who would much rather live in the woods than sit behind a desk all day,” Gambrell said of first meeting Jernigan when he was assigned to Fort Wainwright last year.
Comrades remembered Jernigan as someone who made friends fast because of his great sense of humor.
“As soldiers we all excel, but not necessarily as being soldiers,” Gambrell said. “He did well at taking the edge off. He brought humor to the table.”
Above all, friends respected Jernigan for his loyalty and values.
“He was genuine to his word and standing by his values even if he made a mistake,” Spc. Michael Carter said. “He would do just about anything for us.”
