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Jeremy's Story Jeremy David Desmond was born on March 20th, 1978 in
Panorama City, California. He weighed 8 pounds. Jeremy had a mis-shaped
head for the first several weeks of his life -- he looked kinda like Tweety
Bird. Soon Jeremy was an adorable baby -- with big beautiful
blue eyes and curly brown hair.
Jeremy's Aunt, Sarah Jean, was only 10 weeks older than
Jeremy. Jeremy and Sarah looked like little twins -- they both had
curly hair and blue eyes. This close relationship was something special
between Jer and Sarah. They remained extremely close until Jeremy's death.
Jeremy had talked to Sarah on the phone only hours before he died. [At
right, Sarah and Jeremy - 2 years.]
Being the only grandson allowed Jeremy to hold a special place in Grandma
Jeanie and Grandpa Mel's lives. Having had five daughters - it was
quite a change for them to have, as their first grandchild, a bouncing
baby boy. After that, Grandma Jeanie said, "I'll take granddaughters
from now on. That's what I'm used to." Well, so far that's
all she has - granddaughters. However, she adored Jeremy and wouldn't
have traded him for the world. He seemed to be the only one who could
make a sandwich taste good during her six months of chemotherapy.
Maybe it was just the fact that he was pampering her that made them taste
so good.
Family was very important to Jeremy. Less than a month before
his death, Jeremy brought his Aunt Jeanene and Aunt Laura with him to Roswell
to visit the family. They teased him unmercifully - but he loved
every minute of it. He belonged to everyone in the family it seemed.
When the Desmond family lived in California Jeremy would travel to Ada
and Ozark, Arkansas to spend his summers with his Grandma and Grandpa,
Aunt Sarah, Aunt Jeanene, Uncle Darrel, Aunt Laura, Uncle Mike, and his
cousins Rachel and Leah. Jeremy also had an Aunt Leah, Uncle Zeke
and cousins Cristina and Cori in California. As well as Uncle John, Aunt
Gloria, and cousins Richard and Christy.
Jeremy called his mom everyday - at least once. He would check
in or tell her what he was doing or what was going right or wrong.
He always ended his conversation with "I love you. Tell dad and Julie
Hi." One of his friends asked him why he always told his mom that
he loved her. The friend said that it didn't mean anything if he
said it every time. Jeremy told him that you never know when it might
be the last chance you get to say it. During their phone conversation
on the evening of January 13, 2000, the last words he would say to his
mom were, "I love you."
 Jeremy began school at Pine Ridge Elementary School, near Shaver Lake,
California. During his years at Pine Ridge he made straight A's and also
was an accomplished track star. In fifth grade the Desmond's moved
to Auberry, Calif. and Jeremy began attending Auberry Elementary School.
Jeremy continued to make straight A's, and run track, he also played several
other sports, including baseball, and football. Jeremy graduated
from Auberry Elementary in 1992. He was voted "Best Personality" in his
class. Jeremy began high school at Sierra High School. Jeremy played varsity
tennis during his freshman year. Jeremy decided to play football during
his sophomore year. After football season ended, the Desmond's moved to
Van Buren, Missouri and Jeremy began attending Van Buren High School.
Jeremy became a very accomplished baseball player at Van Buren. During
the summer between his junior and senior year Jeremy decided to move to Ada, Oklahoma, in order to
pursue better opportunities in sports and education.
Jeremy attended Ada High School during his senior year. He played baseball
for the Ada Cougars. Jeremy graduated in 1996.
After high school Jeremy was unsure what he really wanted to do with
his life and where he wanted to attend college. Jeremy explored many schools
before deciding to stay in Ada and attend East
Central University. Jeremy changed his major several times before settling
on English. Jeremy was an excellent writer. We found many poems and
songs that we had written among his things.
Jeremy worked at the Ada Airport for General Aviation Modifications
INC (GAMI.) Jeremy always love airplanes and flying. Jeremy always
wanted to someday become a pilot.
 Jeremy enlisted with the Air National
Guard in September of 1997. In December he
went to basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.
The Air Force saw Jer's leadership potential right away and assigned him
as the element leader. We had the privilege of going to San Antonio to
watch Jer graduate from basic training. We were so proud of him. After
graduation, Jer stayed at Lackland AFB to attended tech school. Jer trained
to be an Airlift Operations Specialist. Jeremy then continued to
serve one weekend a month at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base in Oklahoma
City. He was a member of the 137th Airlift Wing. In the summer of
1999, Jeremy and his unit traveled to New Jersey. In addition, in the Fall,
Jeremy got to play the part of the Airfield Manager in a training video.
All of his fellow Guard members started calling him the Airfield Manager
after that. Jer even had a shirt made that said Airfield Manager.
Jeremy was looking forward to running a twenty-six mile marathon for the
Guard and traveling to Japan in the summer of 2000 with his unit.
Everyone in the 137th unit loved Jeremy. At his funeral, they volunteered
to conduct a military funeral -- complete with a Twenty-One Gun salute,
presentation of the American Flag, and the playing of Taps.
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