Staying Connected
E-Mail from those serving our country

United States Air Force Senior Airman Zachari Ayres has been stationed in Mosul, Iraq for approximately 8 months. Ayres is a 2003 graduate of Carroll Jr.-Sr. High School. He is the son of Kirk and Chrystal Ayres and the grandson of Meredith and Sharon Ayres, all of Flora. Ayres writes...

I would like to thank all the people who pray for me everyday, my brothers, Nick and Drew, and my little sis, Chami. I especially would like to thank my mom and dad for their support and my grandparents. Thanks to the Flora doctor's office for sending all those gift boxes. All the guys have enjoyed them and appreciated them greatly and so have I. I know everyone's prayers have helped greatly.

I've been on nearly 100 convoy missions as a .50 cal. gunner and my unit has been through a lot of tough times, but God always gets us through. We have not had any casualties on any of our missions and I know it's only because of the grace of God and his hand of protection upon us. We went on a humanitarian mission on one of our convoys and visited a small village in the far north. We passed out clothes and toys to some of the kids that live up there. They looked at us like we were superheroes to them. We also played a little soccer with them and a few other games. You'll see some of the kids in the picture that I sent. I just wanted to say that so everyone knows that not everything that happens here is bad.

I have to say the food here is great. We have several chow halls on our base and they all have really surprised me. We have two-person rooms to sleep in with air conditioning. They have a nice gym and a running track nearby. We also have access to Internet and phones. It's definitely not the tough living it used to be.

The temperature is cooling off here now. It's been between 100 and 105 most of the time.

I am very happy to be serving my country and very proud to be in the United States Air Force. I wouldn't choose to do anything else if I could.

The one thing I miss most about home is my family. I thank you once again for all of your support and prayers.

I also want to say thanks to all my other brothers and sisters serving in the U.S. military and their families. God bless you. I'll be home soon, mom. Don't worry!