Rob Jones (rower)
Rob Jones | |
|---|---|
 Rob Jones and Oksana Masters at the 2012 Adaptive World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia | |
| Born | Lovettsville, Virginia |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service |  United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 2007–2011 |
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Battles / wars | Iraq War War in Afghanistan |
| Awards | Purple Heart |
| Website | http://www.robjonesjourney.com |
Rob Jones is a United States Marine and Paralympic athlete who completed 31 consecutive marathons in 31 days.[1] Jones lost both legs above the knee in Afghanistan in 2010.[2] In 2013-14, he biked nearly 5,200 miles across the United States in order to raise awareness for wounded veterans.[3] He also won a bronze medal with Oksana Masters in rowing in the 2012 Summer Paralympics.[3]
Early life
Jones graduated from Loudoun Valley High School (Purcellville, VA) in 2003. While he participated in football and wrestling during his freshman and sophomore years respectively, he was not star athlete in high school.[2] He joined Marine Corps Reserve during his junior year at Virginia Tech.[2] It was in the Marine Corps that he found that running was "a natural fit for him."[2] He earned his bachelor's degree in 2007.
Marine Corps service
Jones was a combat engineer who served in 4th Combat Engineer Battalion. He was attached to 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines in 2008 during the Iraq War and 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines in 2010 during the War in Afghanistan. He was wounded in action by an improvised explosive device in July 2010 in Sangin, Afghanistan and was evacuated to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. As a result of the explosion, he lost both of his legs above the knee. He received the Purple Heart. He was discharged from the Marines as a Sergeant in December 2011.
References
- ^ Soong, Kelyn (12 November 2017). "Veteran who lost both legs completes 31 marathons in 31 days, runners trailing his every step". The Washington Post. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
- ^ a b c d Soong, Kelyn (October 19, 2017). "31 marathons, 31 days, 31 cities: After losing both legs in Afghanistan, he's running to inspire". Washington Post. Retrieved 2018-02-13.
- ^ a b Williams, Kari, "A Month of Marathons Raises Awareness", VFW Magazine, vol. 105, no. 5, February 2018, pp. 15-16.
- Perrigo, Billy (October 12, 2017). "Meet the Double-Amputee Veteran Running 31 Marathons in 31 Days". Time. Retrieved 2018-02-13.
- Rosenberg, Michael (October 11, 2017). "Double-Amputee Marine Veteran Rob Jones Is Running 31 Marathons in 31 Days". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2018-02-13.
- "Rob Jones". saluteheroes.org. Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes. Retrieved 2018-02-13.
- Carlson, Stephen (November 11, 2017). "Marine veteran who lost his legs in Afghanistan completes his final marathon of 31-day stretch". Stars & Stripes. Retrieved 2018-02-13.
- Living people
- American male cyclists
- American male marathon runners
- American male rowers
- American Marine Corps personnel of the Iraq War
- American Marine Corps personnel of the War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
- American military engineers
- Military personnel from Virginia
- People from Lovettsville, Virginia
- Rowers at the 2012 Summer Paralympics
- United States Marine Corps reservists
- Virginia Tech alumni