Goodrich – A soldier in the National Guard in Iraq, this will be the first time Zachariah Pyles will not be with his family at Christmas.
Pyles graduated from Goodrich High School in 2003 and joined the National Guard in 2004 so he could afford to get married to his high school sweetheart, Amy. They were wed on July 8, 2006.
He graduated from Northern Michigan University with a degree in criminal justice in 2007. Then his dream came true’he was offered a job as a police officer in Appleton, Wis. in September.
Just two days later, his world turned upside down. He received orders from the government that he was being deployed to Camp Liberty in Baghdad with the 107th Engineering Battalion.
‘We never thought in a million years this would happen,? says Amy. ‘His battalion had just gotten back from Iraq, so we didn’t expect this.?
Amy is having trouble imagining Christmas without her husband and said she cries when she has to.
Zach’s parents, Eva and Joe Pyles, say it doesn’t feel like Christmas to them. ‘It’s not Christmas. How do you celebrate if you have a son at war?? asked Joe.
Eva said she is also struggling.
‘I am dreading Christmas this year, because Zach isn’t going to be here,? she said. ‘It’s been hard, sometimes I have a hard time sleeping at night because I am worried about him.?
Miranda, Zach’s sister, said, ‘I know what he is doing is good and I am proud of him, but this is our first Christmas without him and it is really sad that he isn’t here.?
In an e-mail Zach’s wife received this week, Pyles said the hardest thing for him is being away from family and friends this time of year.
‘I am going to miss not being with my family even though they do a good job trying to make things seem festive here. However, Christmas will seem just like another day. It’s like the movie ‘Groundhog Day,? every day you wake up and do the same thing, holiday or not,? said Zach.
It is the love he has for his wife and family that Pyles said keeps him going. ‘Everything isn’t that bad. I have an amazing wife and family and they make it easier by sending me care packages filled with goodies from back home,? he said.
Zach’s orders say his first tour of duty is for 400 days and the family is hoping he will be back in September of 2008. ‘I know my son will come back because he has his wife, Amy, to come back to. He has a reason to come back,? said Joe.
The most difficult thing for the family seems to be not knowing what Zach is doing from day to day, for security reasons.
‘All I know is he goes on about three or four missions a week. It’s hard because that is all we are allowed to know; however, I have confidence knowing that Zach knows what he is doing because he is a police officer and also because he has learned how to focus through all the years of wrestling he did at Goodrich High School,? said Joe. ‘Zach finished second at state during his senior year at Goodrich High.?
His mom and dad try to ease the blow of Zach being disconnected from things he enjoys and is familiar with. They send him care packages full of his favorite things. ‘I cut out articles about wrestling from the newspaper and also send him the comic section,? said Eva.
Joe said Zach misses hunting the most. ‘He said all he wants to do is shoot a nice buck,? he said..
It is his commitment to being the best at whatever he does that has earned Zach the respect of anyone who knows him. Goodrich School Board President Michael Tripp said Zach is a man of great character.
‘I got to know Zach through wrestling because my son was also in wrestling. We traveled to various tournaments together. Whenever he lost, he held his head high and had respect for his opponent. He is the kind of person anyone would be proud to say he was their son. When he commits himself to something, he really does it, it isn’t just talk,? said Tripp.
Amy said it really hard for people to dislike Zach because he is really genuine. ‘He makes me proud. I just keep thinking how lucky am I to be married to someone so young who cares about helping others.?
Before Zach left, Amy said they made sure to see all of his family and friends. ‘We also went to our future town of Appleton, Wisconsin and had our own cabin, rode horses and things like that,? said Amy.
However, when Amy gets an e-mail from Zach, it is a cold reminder that things aren’t what they used to be.
In an e-mail she received from her husband this week, Zach said, ‘I know I am in danger. Yeah, sure there is a chance that I could die here. However, each day there are hundreds of people who die in the states and nobody lives in fear there.?
Letters or care Packages can be sent to Zach Pyles:
SPC, HSC 107 ENG BN, Unit #43480, APO, AE09344-3480