Army Sgt. 1st Class Carlos M. Santos-Silva

Remember Our Heroes

Army Sgt. 1st Class Carlos M. Santos-Silva, 32, of Clarksville, Tenn.

SFC Santos-Silva was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.; died March 22, 2010 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an IED.

A soldier killed by an improvised explosive device while serving in Afghanistan on Monday has ties to Knoxville and will be honored there in a receiving of friends this upcoming Monday.

SFC Carlos Santos-Silva, 32, will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery next month. This upcoming Monday, he will be honored in Knoxville.

A receiving of friends is set for Monday, March 29, at the National Guard Armory on Sutherland Avenue, in Knoxville from 5 to 7 p.m.

Santos-Silva first enlisted in 1996, when his family lived in Clarksville. About a decade ago, his parents Fransisco and Monika moved to Knoxville.

Santos-Silva died Monday after an improvised explosive device attack on his vehicle, while he was on mounted patrol in the Kandahar province.

Santos-Silva joined the Army as a medical supply specialist in 1996. In 2000, he changed jobs and became an infantryman with the 10th Mountain Division. He deployed to Kosovo in 2001 and deployed twice to Iraq.

After his second deployment to Iraq, Santos-Silva became a drill sergeant at Fort Benning, Ga. While there, he attended Basic Airborne School. In February 2009, Santos-Silva reported to Fort Bragg and deployed with the 4th Brigade Combat Team six months later.

"Sgt. 1st Class Santos-Silva was the epitome of a noncommissioned officer, a true standard bearer," said 1st Lt. Matthew Jarmon, executive officer in Company C. "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."

Since the 4th Brigade Combat Team deployed in August, 20 of its soldiers have died.

His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star with an oak leaf cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal(3), 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 Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal, the Expert Infantryman Badge, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Pathfinder Badge, the Air Assault Badge, and the Basic Parachutist Badge.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Carlos M. Santos-Silva was killed in action 3/22/10.