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Robert J.
Near
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Age:
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21
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Hometown:
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Granger, WA.
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Date of Death:
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1/7/2011
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Incident Location:
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Kandahar, Afghanistan
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Branch of Military:
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Army
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Rank:
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PFC
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Unit:
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86th Signal Battalion
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Unit's Base:
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Fort Huachuca, Ariz.
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Pfc. Robert J. Near, 21, died in Kandahar while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom Near had been serving with the U.S. Army for 21 months. He worked as a 25 Q Multi Channel Transmissions Systems Operator/Maintainer for the 86th Signal Battalion in Afghanistan. Pfc. Nears’ job was to provide network infrastructure, like communications equipment, for the U.S. Army in Afghanistan.
Near had graduated with a slew of computer skills from the Centennial Job Corps program. For 13 months, he lived in the program's dormitory building. He was especially close to his instructor, Michael Delaney.
"He was a character, a cut up I guess," Delaney said. "He always had a quick one liner here and there. A very intelligent young man. Easy to get along with. I don't think I had ever seen him mad about anything."
Near grew up with his father on a family cherry orchard near Granger, Wash. His mother, brother and three sisters are in California, according to a Monday evening release from family members.
He moved to Nampa for Job Corps training, his family said.
Delaney, a 22-year Army veteran, had encouraged his student to join the Army. They'd had long conversations about the realities he would face in the military during a time of war.
Delaney said he'd stayed in touch with Near after his enlistment. Near deployed to Afghanistan in April.
"He was still fired up on being a soldier and enjoying what he was doing and proud of what he was doing," Delaney said.