Family mourns Plainfield man killed in Afghanistan

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Updated: August 4, 2011 4:20PM

PLAINFIELD — Serving in Afghanistan, Army Pfc. Andrew N. Meari kept a photograph of his grandfather, a picture taken while the elder was serving with the Army in the Korean War.

Meari carried the picture in his wallet. He bore a striking resemblance to the young private of 50-plus years ago.

“That was something he was proud to carry,” Meari’s uncle said Wednesday.

Meari, 21, of Plainfield, was killed Monday in Kandahar, Afghanistan, when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device, the Department of Defense announced.

Meari is the son of Denise Meehan, of Plainfield, and Mahmoud Meari, of Grafton, Wis. Meari attended Plainfield South High School and Drauden Point Middle School, said his uncle, Todd Williams, of Chicago, a family spokesman.

Meari is remembered as an outgoing young man, a bright student, and a hero.

Meari’s awards and decorations include: National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, and Combat Infantry Badge.

Soldier’s youth

Meari was born Sept. 14, 1989, in Chicago. His mother moved to Plainfield when she remarried, Williams said.

As a small boy, Meari loved to play with the Tonka trucks that Williams bought for him.

“That was the thing I always did for him. I would always give him trucks for his birthday or Christmas. He had a whole fleet of those,” Williams said.

“He was outgoing, friendly, a big jokester,” Williams said of Meari. “He loved to joke around, loved to tease. That’s big in our family. He was very protective of his cousins and his family.”

Meari was a bright student who often was ahead of the challenges that his school could provide for him, Williams said.

“He had a lot of potential,” Williams said. “He found his niche in the military. He loved being a soldier, and he loved doing what he was doing.”

Meari attended Plainfield South, but graduated high school in Wisconsin.

He joined the Army in October 2008 and arrived at Fort Campbell, Ky., in February 2009, according to the fort’s website.

Duty in Afghanistan

Meari was deployed to Afghanistan with the Army in May, Williams said.

During his leave in August, he was able to return home to see his mother in Plainfield, his uncle in Chicago and other relatives.

“That was the last time we saw him,” Williams said. “It was great to see him. Thank God we got to see him when we did.”

At the time of his death, Meari was assigned to Company A, 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), out of Fort Campbell.

On Monday, Meari’s unit was attacked with a vehicle-borne explosive device in the Zhari district, Kandahar, Afghanistan.

“He died a hero,” Williams said. “He is going to be missed — he and the other soldier who was killed. They were good friends. They had a pretty tight unit.”

Also killed in the attack was Spc. Jonathan Curtis, 24, of Belmont, Mass.

Meari is survived by his father and mother; two brothers, Ethan and Andrew; and a sister, Jenna.

Williams said of Meari: “He did something that a lot of people can’t do or won’t do. His commanding officer spoke glowingly of Andrew and Jonathan. He was well-loved by his family as well as the soldiers he worked with. He died defending his country. That’s the ultimate sacrifice. God bless him.”