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William Gross Paniagua

DALY CITY, CA, US

U.S. Army

SGT, CO A, 3RD BDE SPECIAL TROOPS BN, 3 BCT, SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, HI

07/31/2011, WATAHPUR DISTRICT, AFGHANISTAN


William Benjamin Gross Paniagua was born on October 21, 1982 in Nicaragua to Carlos and Socorro Gross Paniagua. His siblings included Carlos Benjamin Gross Paniagua, Felicia Guadalupe Gross Paniagua, and Byron Benjamin Gross Paniagua. His friends say that William has also been missed by his two pups.

William came to the United States when he was nine years old. He resided in Daly City, California. Proud soldier of the United States Army, Alpha Company, 3rd Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division based at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii. Army Sgt. William Benjamin Gross Paniagua died in the mountainous Kunar Province of northeastern Afghanistan. In death, Paniagua was serving his country in the Operation Enduring Freedom. His parents and family will always remember him and the light that he brought to this world. The nation will always remember him and his family for their sacrifices.

Fellow soldier, Natalie Smith remembered him: “SGT William Gross was one of the nicest guys I ever met. Always ready with a smile and a kind word-willing to stop and talk to anyone about how they were doing. We served in the same Battalion in Schofield Barracks, HI and deployed together to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. It was a real blow to learn of his death. He will be sorely missed by one and all.”

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