SALEM - Sgt James Anthony Ayube II, 25, died Dec. 8, 2010 in Balkh province, Afghanistan, after a suicide bomber attacked his unit on patrol. James was assigned to the Third Squadron, Second Stryker Cavalry Regiment out of Vilseck, Germany. James was born April 29, 1985 at Wright Patterson AFB while his father was stationed there. He was the son of James and Christina Ayube. He married wife Lauren January 2008.
James and his family moved to Salem in 1989. He graduated Salem High School in 2003. He earned an Associate’s Degree in Sociology from Bunker Hill Community College in Boston in 2007 before enlisting in the Army in June 2007. He was a parishioner of St James Church in Salem where he was baptized and confirmed. He was a proud member of Boy Scout Troop 24 in Salem.
James loved life. From the moment he could crawl as a baby, he was on the run and never stopped, always trying to live his life to the fullest. He was a caring, thoughtful person. He always tried to solve whatever problem his family or friends had. But he was not perfect; he would get in trouble like any other child or teenager or young man; but he was never malicious and was always sorry for whatever trouble he caused. He was not afraid of trying new things. He always enjoyed reading and learning. He made friends easily, chose his friends wisely and his friends were always welcome in his home. He died doing what he always did: helping others. James was a great child, grew to be a wonderful man, and his family and close friends loved him very much and had great pride in him.
This was posted by James on Facebook shortly before his death:
If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain
- Emily Dickinson
Besides his parent s and his wife, James also leaves a brother, Alex, 24; a sister, Ashleigh, 17; sister-in-law Ericka; adopted siblings Steven and Jessica; Godparents Victoria Ruff and Kevin McCarthy; the soldiers and friends from the Third Squadron, Second Stryker Cavalry Regiment, especially SSgt Peter Aho and his wife Jen; many other family and friends; and his faithful dog, Radar Wicket.
ARRANGEMENTS: James’ funeral with will be held on Saturday, Dec 18 at 11:00 a.m. at St James Church, 156 Federal St., (Parking lot is at the corner of Bridge & Flint Streets) Salem to be followed by interment with Army Honors in Harmony Grove Cemetery in Salem. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. Visiting hours are Friday, from 3 to7 p.m. at St James Church. There will be a ceremony during the visitation where James will receive the following awards: The Bronze Star Medal; Purple Heart; Army Good Conduct Medal; NATO Medal; and Combat Medical Badge. Arrangements are by the Full-Spychalski Funeral Home, 84 Washington Square East, by Salem Common, Salem. For online guestbook or additional information, please call 978-744-0254 or visit www.SalemFuneral.com. In lieu of flowers, his family requests memorial contributions in his name be made to Yankee Clipper Council, Boy Scouts of America, 36 Amesbury Road, Haverhill, MA 01830-2802 or go to www.yccbsa.org or to the Fisher House Foundation, Inc., 111 Rockville Pike, Suite 420, Rockville, MD 20850-5168 or at www.fisherhouse.org; The Fisher foundation provides a “home away from home" for military families to be close to a loved one during hospitalization for an illness, disease or injury.