Liberty man tries to contact brother who works in embassy in Yemen

By Peter H. Milliken | January 4, 2010 at 12:10p.m.

Photo

Mike Meszaros

By SEAN BARRON

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

If Mike Meszaros were to compile a résumé of his professional accomplishments, a large portion of it would probably include his service in several of the world’s troubled places.

“Mike’s been in virtually every hot spot in the world,” said his brother, Mark, of Liberty.

That includes Yemen, where the United States and Britain locked their embassies Sunday in response to new threats by al-Qaida to carry out an attack.

In a phone interview Sunday, Mark Meszaros spoke about his brother, a Mineral Ridge native and 1974 Mineral Ridge High School graduate who also is second in command at the Bureau of Consular Affairs in the U.S. Embassy in San’a, Yemen.

His duties include checking the passports of those interested in coming to or leaving Yemen, Mark Meszaros said.

Meszaros said he last spoke to Mike in September and is unsure of his location. He left messages on his voicemail and also tried to contact Mike’s wife, Mary, who is visiting family for the holidays. So far, those efforts have been unsuccessful.

During the 1990s, Mike Meszaros helped evacuate the U.S. Embassy in Haiti when rioting broke out; he also assisted with similar efforts at the embassy in Somalia, Mark Meszaros said.

Mike Meszaros was in an office at the embassy in Yemen when militants disguised as soldiers detonated two car bombs in a September 2008 attack that killed 16 people, including six of the attackers.

Mark Meszaros said that their mother, Pauline, of Niles, is worried about Mike and “still wants to hear what’s going on.”

The embassy in Yemen has about 400 employees, including civilians, Mark Meszaros said. The consulate is inside the embassy, which is part of a large compound.

Michael Meszaros received a bachelor’s degree in political science from Youngstown State University and his law degree from John Marshall School of Law in Cleveland.

In 1996, Secretary of State Warren Christopher presented him with the meritorious honor award for helping families of victims of the air crash in Cali, Colombia.

“He was a big history buff in high school and he won some history competitions in high school. He’s definitely a guy you don’t want to play Trivial Pursuit with,” his brother said.

CONTRIBUTOR: Vindicator staff writer Peter Milliken.