R.I.P. Sgt. 1st Class Carlos M. Santos-Silva

Army Sgt. 1st Class Carlos M. Santos-Silva
Died March 22, 2010 serving during Operation Enduring Freedom

32, of Clarksville, Tenn.; assigned to 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.; died March 22 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an IED.

(The following was taken from www.knoxnews.com of Mar. 25, 2010) KNOXVILLE - Another soldier with local ties has died in Afghanistan.

Sgt. 1st Class Carlos M. Santos-Silva, 32, of Clarksville died Monday from a roadside bomb blast in the Kandahar province, Army officials said. He'd been stationed there since August with Company C of the 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, of the 82nd Airborne Division's 4th Brigade Combat Team.

"It was a mounted patrol," said Master Sgt. Gary Qualls, spokesman for the 82nd. "He was in the Humvee, but he didn't make it."

Santos-Silva enlisted in the Army as a medical supply specialist in August 1996 and attended basic training at Ft. Knox, Ky.

His parents, Fransisco and Monika, live in Knoxville.

Santos-Silva initially served with the 101st Airborne Division, based at Fort Campbell, Ky. He later served as an infantryman with the 10th Mountain Division, based at Fort Drum, N.Y.

While serving with the 10th Mountain Division, he deployed to Kosovo as a team leader in August 2001. He served two more deployments with the 10th in Iraq.

Upon returning from his second tour in Iraq, Santos-Silva reported to Fort Benning, Ga., as a drill sergeant and attended airborne school.

He joined the 82nd in February 2009 and left for Afghanistan in August.

"Sgt. 1st Class Santos-Silva was the epitome of a noncommissioned officer, a true standard bearer," said 1st Lt. Matthew Jarmon, his company's executive officer. "He cared deeply about his paratroopers and they cared deeply about him. His men routinely looked to him for leadership guidance, which he readily gave. He was loved by all in the battalion and made you proud to serve."

Santos-Silva's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with one oak leaf cluster.

He leaves behind a wife, Kristen, and son, Cameron.

A memorial in his honor will be held in Afghanistan.