Sgt. James A. Ayube, II, US ARMY, (Medic) KIA 08 DEC 2010 in Afghanistan

SGT Ayube KIA 08 Dec 2010

Our hearts and prayers go out to Sgt Ayube’s family, fellow Soldiers, and friends….D/C

The widow of a Salem soldier yesterday wept as she prepared to escort her young husband’s body home from Delaware last night, remembering the man who served with pride and gave her the “best years” of her life.

“My husband died doing what he loved,” Lauren Elizabeth Ayube said about Army Sgt. James A. Ayube Jr., who was killed Wednesday by a suicide bomber during a combat mission in the Kandahar Province of Afghanistan. “He was proud of being a soldier and that he provided for his family through what he did. He felt it was his duty to serve and wanted to finish the war with his guys to make sure everyone got home OK.”

Ayube’s widow and father, James Sr., were to return from Dover Air Force Base last night, where the military conducted an autopsy before releasing Ayube’s remains.

Ayube, 25, was a combat medic with Company H, 2nd Stryker, Cavalry Regiment from the Rose Barrack in Vilseck, Germany.

Lauren Ayube met her husband when she was 18 and he was a 19-year-old student at Bunker Hill Community College, where he earned a degree in sociology. They were married two years later.

“I only had four years with him,” she said. “But they were the best four years of my life.”

She last saw James in late June before he was deployed to Afghanistan — but they Skyped every morning and night.

“Even though we were miles apart, we started and ended our days together,” she said. “I talked to him the morning he died. I was falling asleep, but we talked for 15 minutes. He said ‘I love you, babe.’ And the last time I saw his face he was smiling.”

A 2003 graduate of Salem High School, Ayube is also survived by his mother, Christina, his twin brother, Alex, and his sister, Ashleigh.

Yesterday, the North Shore city flew its flags at half-staff.

“It’s a devastating loss to the town,” said Salem City Councilor Michael Sosnowski, the Ayube twins’ old scoutmaster. “Bottom line, we lost a really good young man. This hits home.”

The family plans to bury Ayube in Salem next week.

According to relatives, he had six months left on his tour when he was killed and was looking forward to coming home and the possibility of having kids with his wife.

“It was his dream to have children,” said Lauren Ayube, 24. “I thought we were too young, but started opening up to the idea. I wished there was more time. It’s my one regret.”