2014 Trojan Labor American Hero Recipients

SFC Santos-Silva: Sergeant First Class Carlos M. Santos-Silva 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 killed in action on 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.  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 and is truly missed by all.

SFC Musil:  Sergeant First Class Robert Musil is the recipient of two bronze star medals, the first of which he was on a QRF element in Ghazni Province Afghanistan serving as a M240B machine gun team leader. In a fight that lasted about 10 hours, through extremely heavy gun fire, after being shot at his chest plate, he remained in control of the element and selflessly called in an Apache Strike almost on top of his position in order to suppress the enemy and continued to return fire. The second Bronze Star was for meritorious service where he led his Platoon in Afghanistan in the main effort on the final Push into the Home of the Taliban. Sergeant First Class Robert Musil awards and decorations also include 2 Meritorious Service Medals, 3 Army Commendation Medals, 3 Army Achievement Medals, Combat Infantry Badge, Ranger Tab, Senior Parachutist Badge, Irish Jump Wings, and the Air Assault Badge. SFC Musil’s continued service to our nation is a testimony to sacrifices made by service men. Let us join his wife, Christina and two daughters, Zoe Elizabeth and Genevieve Nichole, in recognizing him as a true American Hero.