PEA RIDGE — Pvt. Nicholas Harvey, 19, of Pea Ridge, was injured Monday, May 9, in Afghanistan when the truck he was driving was hit by an improvised explosive device (IED).

“He’s got hearing loss in his right ear, don’t know if it’s permanent or not, he’s got a concussion, from his knee down can’t feel anything on his right leg,” said his brother, Randall Harvey. “I’m very proud of him it takes a lot of guts to go over there and get shot at.”

Harvey, an Army combat engineer, attended Pea Ridge High School and enlisted in 2009. He, along with wife Brianne and 4-month old son, Braxton, are stationed in Bamberg, Germany. Brianne is from Farmington.

“We were proud when he went into the Army,” said Rick Neal, Pea Ridge High School principal. “I was sorry to hear he got hurt.”

Harvey was flown from Afghanistan to Germanywhere he is receiving medical attention and doing physical therapy, his grandmother Mary Williams said.

He is the son of Teresa Williams Harvey Root of Garfield and Lowell police Capt. Randy Harvey of Rogers. Williams lives in Garfield.

Harvey is the second area soldier to be injured in Afghanistan this month.

Army Pvt. Ricky Heinrichs of Siloam Springs was injured by a roadside bomb on May 2.

An account for donations has been set up for both soldiers at Arvest Bank.

Community, Pages 8 on 05/18/2011