Soldier sent video home just before IED blast

Wilkesboro soldier injured in IED blast
May 11, 2012
by Lindsey Eaton

WILKESBORO, N.C. — A Piedmont family is praying their soldier continues to stay strong after 20-year-old Chance Cleary was injured Sunday in an IED explosion in Afghanistan.

Cleary has been through several surgeries over in Germany, he’s now at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington D.C. with his parents.

In a 30 second online video, Chance Cleary gives his family in Wilkesboro a message from Afghanistan.

“I just want to say hey to the family and friends back home. Love you, guys,” he said.

Cleary’s family didn’t see the video until after he was injured in Afghanistan.

“I mean we all really miss him obviously, and seeing him be that funny Chance is all we know, so i mean it’s nice but at the same time its emotional,” explains Chane’s younger sister Brittany Cleary. Chance was on his first tour in Afghanistan.

On Sunday he was driving a Humvee with four other soliders inside. Cleary ran over an IED. “It’s honestly devastating your whole world just comes down in one day,” says Brittany.

The passenger in the Humvee died. The two soldiers in the back survived, Chance is holding on.
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