newsminer.com

Three years ago, Jeanie Kinchen had to bury a son long before his time.

Her oldest son, Lance Cpl. Jeremiah Colt Kinchen, a 22-year-old Marine from Salcha, was killed in an explosion in al-Anbar province in Iraq.

On Monday, she lost her second son, James, not to war, but to a motorcycle accident.

“Just when I needed him he was there these past three years,” Jeanie said. “I didn’t think I’d have to go through it again.”

About 4 a.m. James Colby Kinchen, 23, was riding his motorcycle, one of his favorite pastimes, near mile 206 of the Parks Highway when he apparently lost control and crashed. James was wearing a helmet, and Alaska State Troopers do not believe alcohol was a factor in the accident. They believe he simply fell asleep while riding home.

Jeanie recalled that her sons weren’t just brothers, but best friends growing up. They were born only 18 months apart.

Their grandfather was a trapper and alligator fisherman in Louisiana, and he taught them an early appreciation for the outdoors.

Friends described James as a “country boy” who enjoyed fishing and hunting. Alaska was a perfect fit for him when the family moved here.

One of the biggest accomplishments he used to talk about was bagging a black bear that surprised him on his 16th birthday while he was moose hunting with his family.

“He was tough, but he had a good heart,” Jeanie said.

When James was 17, his brother announced his plans to join the Marines. Never far behind, James announced his intentions to join the Army National Guard, where he served as a medic.

“When they joined I said, ‘Do you know we’re going to war?’ But he wanted to serve,” Jeanie recalled. “If one was into something, the other was into it.”

The death of his brother in April 2005 deeply affected James.

“He decided even before we started talking about having kids that he wanted (a son) to be named after his brother,” said James’ ex-wife, Teri.

In July 2006 she gave birth to a healthy boy, who was named Jeremiah Colt after the uncle he would never know.

“He loved his son and spent all his free time with him,” Teri said.

And though little Jeremiah is too young to understand what has happened, Teri said that when he asks someday, she will tell him that his father thought the world of him, and worked two jobs to provide for his young family.

Always the devoted family man, Jeremiah was actually leaving his second son for the first time when tragedy struck Monday.

His fiancee gave birth to a son, Brayden Emery, a little more than two weeks ago, but they were forced to stay in the hospital for longer than expected because of complications.

“He was a good dad and he loved his family,” Jeanie said. “He was very family oriented.”

James is survived by his parents, Jeanie and James Kinchen Jr., sister Amie and sons Jeremiah Colt and Brayden Emery. Funeral arrangements are pending.