Soldier's death cuts holidays short

There was supposed to be a surprise New Year's Eve celebration at Cleveland's trendy Warehouse District and a trip to the season's last Cleveland Browns home game for Master Sgt. Joseph J. Andres Jr.

The holiday homecoming plans were cut short when word came that Andres, 34, was killed in Baqubah, Iraq, on Christmas Eve.

He was assigned to Army Special Operations Command in Fort Bragg as a communications officer.

"It's devastation," Andres' sister Sharon Andres said.

Her brother, a 1989 graduate of Padua Franciscan High School, died Saturday in Baqubah when his unit came under small-arms fire, the Army said.

Andres' injuries came from "the attack detonated near his Humvee," according to the Army. He was the only casualty, Army spokesman Maj. Jim Gregory said.

American flags stood along the Andres' front porch Monday, along with a manger scene, a snowman and a sign wishing visitors a Merry Christmas.

His father, Joseph Andres Sr., said his son was "adventurous" but responsible. He rode dirt bikes, skateboarded and snowboarded. But he also was on the honor roll, played drums in the symphony orchestra, wrestled and ran track.

Two years into studying materials engineering at the University of Cincinnati, Andres decided to join the military.

He started as a medic in the Army Reserve in 1992 and joined the Army a year later.

"He really believed in what he did," sister Debbi Serraglio said.