News-Herald -- Army National Guard Spc. Brian Wright is being remembered by area family members as a strong leader with a big heart.

Wright, 19, was killed by a roadside mine in Iraq Tuesday while serving with the 135th Engineering Company A, Illinois National Guard, according to family reports.

Wright's uncle Ken Kinder of Painesville Township said despite living hundreds of miles away in Keensburg, Ill., Wright was close with his aunts, uncles and cousins here.

"He was just a great kid," Kinder said. "Everybody loved him."

Wright's mother, Shirley, grew up in Painesville Township, where she graduated from Riverside High School in 1978.

Kinder said his nephew had planned to pursue a career as a military chaplain - following in his father Allan's footsteps.

Allan is a minister at Keensburg Christian Church, and is involved with a National Guard after-school program for middle-school students.

"Brian was his father's son," his uncle said. "He was planning on completing his education, and he was going to follow his father - he wanted to be a chaplain."

Teachers, friends and family will remember Wright as a loving young man who got along well with everyone, Kinder said.
Wearing the uniform, Wright served his country with an upbeat attitude and a knack for leadership, he said.
"In his unit, he was a leader. He was the guy who would get people out playin' ball," Kinder said.
Wright's brother David, 13 months his senior, is a Marine who also served in Iraq.

Kinder recalled a story he says was typical of the young soldier to whom family was so important.

"His brother was at a base a ways away from him," he said. "Brian found out where his brother was located and went to his commanding officer and said, 'I need to get a ride there and make sure he's OK.' "

Brian caught a convoy to surprise his brother, and spent the night with David's unit. "When he got back, he called his mom to tell her, 'You don't have to worry about David,' " Kinder said.

Kinder said an outpouring of support by fellow military and church families in Keensburg has helped the Wrights to deal with the loss.
"They're obviously very upset, but the support group that they have is nothing short of amazing," he said.

Brian died while driving a Humvee with two fellow guardsmen from his Lawrenceville, Ill.-based unit. Both passengers survived the attack, Kinder said.