Locks of Love

Published April 9, 2008
By Tech. Sgt. James Law
455 Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

KANDAHAR AIR FIELD, Afghanistan -- She had long hair all of her life, but during a deployment here she decided to donate 13 inches of it to Locks of Love.

"I never had short hair," said Staff Sgt. Jenet Akerson, 451st Expeditionary Communications Flight Network Control Center technician. "I was raised in Hawaii; my mom has long hair, so it's part of my heritage."

Sergeant Akerson said the decision was difficult to make, but one influenced by her admiration for her mother-in-law after learning she had alopecia. Alopecia is a condition of patchy hair loss, most noticeably on the scalp.

"I never would have even thought to do something like that had it not been for her being an influence in my life," said Sergeant Akerson. "She has a heart of gold and is the strongest woman I know, so really it was a dedication to her."

She explained she wanted to be with her mother-in-law when she cut her hair, but decided to cut it while deployed because she wanted to donate healthy hair and the water here was damaging hers.

Although she was unable to be with her mother-in-law at the time, her husband was deployed with her and cut her hair.

"It meant a lot to be apart of it and to actually be the one to cut her hair," said Staff Sgt. Jeremy Akerson, 451 ECF planner. "I know (from) being around her family the heritage with her hair and cutting it was a big deal."

Sergeant Jenet Akerson said it took her awhile to learn how to work with short hair, but it is something she will get use to.

"We've decided that as long as my hair grows healthy, as soon as it gets up to a decent length, we're going to cut it off every year," said Sergeant Akerson. "I don't color my hair, so I guess they will have some white streaks in it when I get older."

Sergeant Jeremy Akerson explained it was coincidence and luck they were both deployed at the same time to the same location, especially since they have not been stationed together since December 2006.

The couple met May 2005 at Ramstein Air Base, Germany where they were stationed together. The two were married in September 2007 after he was reassigned to Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas in December 2006.

"It has put a different view on my deployment," said Sergeant Jeremy Akerson. "Time has just caught on fire, and I don't want to leave because I am leaving my wife."

The two are hoping to be reunited on a joint assignment in March 2009 after Sergeant Jenet Akerson meets the time on station requirement and can be reassigned.