Gilroy
– As the family of fallen U.S. Marine Jeramy Ailes began the sad
business of arranging the return of his body, a city in mourning
began looking for ways to cope with the young man’s death and honor
his sacrifice.
Gilroy – As the family of fallen U.S. Marine Jeramy Ailes began the sad business of arranging the return of his body, a city in mourning began looking for ways to cope with the young man’s death and honor his sacrifice.
“My heart went out to the family of Jeramy,” said Hallie Sullivan, whose 22-year-old son, U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. David Sullivan, spent seven months in Fallujah before returning in September. “He is the same age as my son and also has three sisters. It hit close to home.”
For many, the young man’s death has made real a distant war that most only glimpse through news pages and television sets. Ailes was shot Monday in an “ambush-type situation,” according to his father Joel Ailes, as the Marine and his company rooted out the last insurgents in Fallujah. Ailes is the first Gilroy resident to die in battle since Vietnam.
“I heard [about Jeramy] when I was driving and I started crying because my son is still over there,” said Carolina Goodwin. Her son, National Guard Spc. Michael Navarro, has been stationed in southern Iraq since February.
Goodwin split a frantic Wednesday trying to locate her son while calling others to learn about services planned for Ailes.
Within hours of learning the news, friends of the family set up the Jeramy Ailes Memorial Fund. Donations will help the family “defray any unexpected costs related to their loss,” according to Christy Schwartz, who helped set up the fund and works with Ailes’ mother, Lana, at Morgan Hill’s Barrett Elementary School.
“They’re a wonderful family, full of heart and soul,” Schwartz said. “I know [they] are going to miss him. Their lives have been changed forever.”
The school plans to hold a flag ceremony honoring Ailes on Friday morning. Marines will lower the flag to half-staff and Barrett’s 518 students will place tri-colored red, white, and blue ribbons along the school yard fence.
Students in the Leadership Class at Gilroy High School, where Jeramy graduated in 2001, are also planning a ceremony.
The city plans to honor Ailes in a number of ways, including a moment of silence during its Nov. 22 City Council meeting and a dedication during a Dec. 6 meeting.
“Obviously, we hear of this happening elsewhere,” Mayor Al Pinheiro said. “When it hits home it makes it that much more painful. It’s in our backyard and reality sets in. Everyone that’s got children just feels for the family that has to go through something like this.”
Cars of friends and family lined the Ailes’ driveway Wednesday night, hours after the family met with Marine representatives to discuss the details of retrieving their son’s body. Joel Ailes said it could be five to 15 days before he is returned. The Marines are arranging for Amy Santos, Ailes’ cousin and a member of the Air Force, to escort his body home from Dover Air Force Base. They expected to learn more details by Monday.
In ways small and large, residents have looked to find ways to console the family. Local florists said they have received a flurry of orders, and friends and family have turned up a number of photos and video of the young man.
One resident asked The Dispatch to pass along digital footage of ‘Proud to be an American’, a performance at Luigi Aprea Elementary last year that included the young soldier.
“Jeramy was there and was asked to participate by representing our armed forces,” recalled the resident, whose daughter attended the school with the soldier’s 12-year-old sister Leah. “This was the day before he shipped out.”
Joel Ailes said “it would be fine” for residents to send The Dispatch additional stories or comments about their son.
As the family and city grapple with Ailes’ death, U.S. and Iraqi forces continue battling insurgents in Iraq. According to news reports, the heaviest fighting is taking place in the northern cities of Bayji, Kirkuk and Mosul. The U.S. has lost 1,214 of its uniformed men and women since the start of the war in March 2003, according to news reports.
Hallie Sullivan, whose son David is currently stationed at a Marine base in southern California, remains anxious about the future. With a year and a half left in his service, they know there is a good chance the military will send him back for a second tour.
“I know that that’s his job,” she said. “We live with that possibility.”
Jeramy Ailes Memorial Fund
• Friends of the family have set up a memorial fund at Washington Mutual bank in Morgan Hill.
• Checks should be made payable to: Washington Mutual Account 0982852488.
• Donations can be sent to Washington Mutual, 17599 South Monterey Road, Morgan Hill.
• They can be left with Christy Schwartz in the office of Barrett Elementary School, 895 Barrett Ave., Morgan Hill. Christy has asked that a name and address be included so a thank you note can be sent.
Remembering Jeramy
Did you know Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jeramy Ailes? Were you a buddy who went along for a ride in his “BajaBug” or were you on the receiving end of one of his good-natured pranks? The Dispatch, with the blessing of the Ailes family, would like to share memories and photographs of Jeramy for publication in the paper and on a Web gallery. E-mail stories, thoughts and pictures you’d like to share to ed****@****ic.com.
