Grafton Soldier Recovering After Blast

Grafton native Andrew Piiranen, who was injured by an improvised explosive device while serving in Afghanistan earlier this week, is expected to be evacuated to Germany today, his grandmother said.

While in Germany, he will be evaluated to determine if he suffered traumatic brain injury from the blast, his grandmother Maureen Lemieux said today.

Piirainen, 26, suffered facial injuries from schrapnel, neck swelling and stomach wounds, his grandmother said.

He thought he had suffered a punctured eardrum, but he told his family the ear had popped.

He called his mother soon after he was injured, which gave his family comfort, Lemieux said.

“He sounded very good,’’ she said. “He tried to reassure us.’’

Piirainen, who serves in the Air Force, was accompanied by six other service members when the incident occurred, she said. Piirainen was less severely injured than his fellow soldiers because he was farther away from the explosion, she said.

Piirainen grew up in Grafton and graduated in 2003 from Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School.

After his stay in Germany, Piirainen will be transferred to a facility in Maryland, then will likely return to Utah, where he is stationed.

Of course, the family hopes that Grafton will fit into his travel plans soon.

"We can't wait to see him,'' his grandmother said.