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Soldier From Concord Killed In Afghanistan

US Army Infantryman Killed Thursday

WMUR 9

CONCORD, N.H. -- Army Spc. Justin Pellerin, 21, of Concord, was killed in Afghanistan Thursday while serving with his unit.

The soldier is reported to be 21-year-old Justin Pellerin, a U.S. Army infantryman. Pellerin was a member of a unit based out of Fort Drum, N.Y.

Pellerin and his wife, Chelsey, had just celebrated their first wedding anniversary.

Pellerin said she spoke with her husband everyday while he was overseas, but Friday she did not hear from him. Instead there was a knock on the door from Army representatives.

“I went downstairs and there was two guys dressed in green and my heart dropped straight down,” said Pellerin.

She was told her husband had been killed while on a mission.

“At some point yesterday, he was on a mission and his truck hit an IED [improvised explosive device],” Pellerin said.

Pellerin said her husband was deployed to Afghanistan in January, six months after the couple was married. The two had been high school sweethearts.

Justin Pellerin was serving in an infantry unit based out of Fort Drum in New York. Being in the Army was something he had always dreamed of doing.

“He always told me he always wanted to do something people would remember him for,” said Pellerin.

For now, Chelsey Pellerin is surrounded by close friends who grew up with her and her husband. They say they will get through the heartache together.

“I know he's looking down at us smiling right now, one of his goofy smiles,” said Geordan Rule.

Rule said memories of Justin bring laughter and remembrances of riding bikes and working on cars.

“I definitely need all my friends and family, all of us together,” said Pellerin.

Pellerin said during her daily phone conversations with her husband, she would always tell him she was proud of him.

“I still wait for his phone call, like all day I’ve been waiting,” she said. “It's definitely tough. I mean, I never thought I could lose my best friend and the love of my life all within a quick second.”

Pellerin was suppose to be on a flight Friday afternoon to meet her husband’s body once it returned to the country, but her flight was canceled by a string of strong storms. Plans have not been set for a memorial service.