Air Compassion for Wounded Warriors

Captain Christopher Ayres, USMC, (Ret.) was serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom and was injured at the first assault at Fallujah in April 2004. His unit was conducting combat operations against enemy insurgents who had killed four U.S. contractors from Blackwater. His unit was ambushed and sustained intense small-arms fire, light machine gun fire, and rocket fire. One of the rockets pierced the side of the vehicle Chris was riding in and lodged in the engine compartment where his right leg was situated.

Chris was medically evacuated to Brooke Army Medical Center in Texas and spent 75 days in treatment. He left the hospital on a walker and with forearm crutches. It took 6 months for him to regain strength and learn to walk again.

Chris still has his right leg but the injury left him with complete loss of his right posterior thigh. He has sciatic and peroneal nerve damage in his leg and foot which causes chronic pain throughout his lower back, leg and foot. Chris also has 3rd degree burns on the right side of his body. He lost peripheral vision in his right eye and has 18 teeth cracked with calcific metamorphasis. Chris suffers from moderate TBI and has chronic PTSD.

Chris lives in Texas and has a tremendous support system with his wife Renee and three young daughters. During 2008, Air Compassion for Veterans (ACV) provided Chris with three free flights for extensive PTSD counseling, therapy and treatment at the Pathway Home. In July 2009, ACV flew Chris, Renee and the girls to partake in a Wounded Warrior Family Support Disney vacation trip.

The most recent ACV flight was for Chris to be matched with a service dog at the Carolina Canines for Service program, just one of many service-dog programs that reach out to our wounded warriors. These remarkable dogs become an extension of their owners and bring security, freedom, independence and relief from social isolation.

Chris was matched with Titus, the seventh dog to be placed from the Carolina Canines for Veterans program. Titus came to Carolina Canines from Horry County Shelter in Myrtle Beach, SC and weighed a mere 46 pounds. Titus is now a healthy 71 pounds and was trained by the prisoners at Camp Lejeune.

Chris and Titus arrived in Texas on November 22, 2009. The Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays had a most special meaning for Chris and his family.

Chris began hand-cycling in June of 2007 through Achilles Freedom Team of Wounded Veterans. This year he will be representing Team Operation Rebound through the Challenged Athletes Foundation in up - coming races. It is proven that adaptive sports programs offer tremendous help in the healing of body, mind and spirit. ACV will be providing Chris with flights to those events.

ACV is instrumental in making sure every aspect of the wounded warrior is treated. These amazing servicemen, women and their families have earned and deserve whatever it takes to reestablish a normal and productive life. ACV bridges the gap by making sure they can access these services.

Air Compassion for Wounded Warriors is CVC #3247

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