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Wife of local soldier talks about his final moments after being injured by IED in Afghanistan

EXPORT, Pa. — A soldier from Export, Westmoreland County, died Sunday after sustaining injuries from an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan on Nov. 27.

Sgt. Jason Mitchell McClary, 24, died in Landstuhl, Germany, as a result of the injuries he suffered in late November while in Andar District, Ghazni Province, Afghanistan, the Department of Defense announced Monday.

McClary is survived by his wife and two sons. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado.

"I sat there and I held his hand and I told him what the kids had been up to and what the baby has learned," said Lillie McClary, as she described the final moments by her husband's bedside in a Germany hospital.

She told Channel 11 he suffered a massive stroke after coming into contact with an IED while on patrol.

"I had to make the decision to take him off his breathing tube and just let nature take its course," she said. "It was something we had gone over before. He said if he ever was hurt and never going to be able to live a normal life, he said let me go and move on with life."

The two had known each other most of their lives, going to Kiski Area School District together.

After this deployment, Jason was planning to get out of the military to spend more time with his family.

"He realized how much he was missing. He loved his job more than anything. But he still wanted to give it up to be at home with me and the kids," she said. "Even though he’s gone, he still left me a whole future that he has built for me. I get to live with my kids and I can’t thank him enough for that."

Three other service members -- including 25-year-old Air Force Staff Sgt. Dylan Elchin, of Beaver County -- were killed in the explosion. Two others were wounded.

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The incident is under investigation, the DOD said.

It was the deadliest attack against U.S. forces in Afghanistan this year. The Taliban claimed responsibility.

McClary's funeral arrangements have not been finalized, but will be in Pennsylvania.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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