CLARKSVILLE, TN, US
U.S. Army
SFC, CO C, 2ND BN, 508TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 4TH BCT, FT BRAGG, NC
07/27/2010, COP NOLEN, AFGHANISTAN
Carlos M Santos-Silva, 32, of Fort Bragg NC, died March 22,2010 while serving as a Platoon Sergeant in the 82nd Airborne Division while assigned to the 2-508 Parachute Infantry Regiment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
He was born November 4 1977, in Wiesbaden Germany. On April 11 1998 he married Kristen J Anderson, in Fort Campbell, Ky. On March 6 1999 he celebrated the birth of his only son Cameron Santos-Silva.
He served in the United States Army from August 1996 until March 22 2010. He was a veteran of the Kosovo campaign, Operation Iraqi freedom where he completed 2 tours as a member of the 2nd Battalion 14th Infantry Regiment based out of Fort Drum, NY. He was also currently serving in Operation Enduring Freedom as a member of 2-508 Parachute Infantry Regiment based out of Fort Bragg, NC.
During the span of his 14 year career Sergeant First Class Santos-Silva awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal with three Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Good Conduct Medal (4), the National Defense Service Medal, the Kosovo Campaign Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, the Iraqi Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the NATO Medal, the Expert Infantryman Badge, the Combat Infantry Badge, the Pathfinder Badge, the Air Assault Badge, and the Basic Parachutist Badge.
Carlos was a loving husband, father, son and friend. All will truly miss him.
From his wife Kristen:
I met Carlos was we were 18 years old. We were able to be together till both of our ages at 32, when Carlos passed. When I first met Carlos he was quite and shy and I was the talkative one, lol. I will never forget the grin and smile that he would always have on his face. Over the years Carlos and I grew up and he became one of the most respected man, father and solider that I will ever know. Carlos loved the military, his job and being a family man to me and our son Cameron. Carlos was dedicated to his job of training soldiers and wanted to watch them grow. He had a mentor that helped him when he first became a team leader in the US Army infantry command. He wanted to instill the same discipline and soldiering in others.
Carlos’s personality was so fun loving that you didn’t know if he was joking or serious that sometimes you had to stop and think before you could answer him. The squad leaders tell me that Carlos would be all serious about mandatory training, and then take them into the office to place x-box together as he would try and practice to beat our son on certain games. Carlos always was spontaneous, had a quick witted since of humor, and loved experiencing new things. He had a quiet demeanor about him, but his smile always gave him away. My son and I were always his priority when he was home, and his soldiers when he was working. He truly cared about everybody and would try and find the best in everyone.