CPL Jonathan R. Ayers, U.S. Army
4 May 1984 - 13 July 2008
Jonathan was born in Atlanta, Georgia and was raised in the community of Snellville where he played soccer from the age of 4, learning not only defense but later on in his years of playing becoming a strong offensive player as well. He enjoyed the comradery, played hard but also always defending his teammates.
In the crucible of the Battle of Wanat, Afghanistan, on July 13th, 2008, he embodied the very spirit of resilience, rising through adversity as iron is forged in flames. Only a few days from leaving Wanat and in a town where they were trying to set up a base, the Chosen Company came under attack from several hundred insurgents. With very few supplies, protection walls not built and drone support being pulled to protect a visiting General, the 40 members of Chosen Company felt the rush of an oncoming battle starting at 4:20 in the morning.
The OP that was over the base only had a big rock and they had dug out a shallow hole to protect them, but they knew that if they were overrun all their team in the base below would not have much protection, so they stood their ground. Almost all in the OP and the ones trying to get them ammo from the base died. Jonathan was hit once in his helmet but got back up to continue firing at the insurgents. The second time he was hit was the one that took his life. He was honored by many of the ones that survived by being at his silver star ceremony, held in the high school where he graduated.
Om May 20, 2009, the swearing-in room at Ft. Gilliam where recruits take the oath of enlistment, was dedicated as the Corporal Jonathan Ayers U.S. Army Ceremony Room. Jonathan also had the intersection on a major highway near his high school named after him.
Jonathan was a person of faith, loved helping others, enjoyed making people laugh and cared deeply for his family and friends. Jonathan was a very talented musician as well as singer. In his younger years as well as soccer, he sang with the Young Singers of Callanwolde and in middle school played the cello and would get to school early to practice becoming 1st chair. So, when his comrades from Chosen Company told us he would quit reading, get off his bunk and run up a high score on guitar hero, we were not surprised. In high school he had given up the cello to be in the JROTC. He became Cadet Commander his senior year and awarded Outstanding Commander at the State of Georgia JROCT drill meet. He never gave up on singing with us or even playing handbells in his mother’s handbell choir.
Though he is gone, his legacy echoes in the hearts of all who knew him—an enduring reminder that courage, honor, and brotherhood live on.
