Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines deployed in support of Operation
Iraqi Freedom at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, gathered at
the camp chapel to show their final respect to a fallen comrade
on Oct. 21, 2009.
"Sgt. Maj. Silver lived the Army Values and the [Non-
Commissioned Officers] Creed for 30 years," said Sgt. Maj.
Kenneth Eady, Third Army Sustainment sergeant major,
who counted Silver as a close friend and battle buddy. "No
matter how sick he was, he refused to quit. In his mind he
was ready to deploy with his Soldiers and told me to tell his
Soldiers here that he would see them soon."
Silver was known to the Soldiers that served with him
as a Soldier's sergeant major because he was always available
to help anyone that needed it, regardless of rank, and
dedicated his life to leading Soldiers. He was known for his
love for running and the countless times he would run with
his Soldiers.
"Silver was the type of guy that would go the extra
mile every day," said Sgt. Maj. Allerick Knight,
Third Army Personnel sergeant
major, who had
served with Silver in a previous
duty assignment in
Korea. "He really embodied
the Army's "Army of
One" philosophy, staying
late to help his fellow Soldiers
to complete the mission.
He was a good man
and always had a ready
smile."
Silver was born
in Linden, N.C., on
April 5th, 1961. Silver's
distinguished career
took him to many
duty stations across the
United States, Germany,
Korea and the Middle
East. His last duty
station was with Third
Army / U.S. Army Central at
Fort McPherson in Atlanta, Ga.,
where he served as the Chief Mechanic
Maintenance Non-Commissioned Officer.
His awards and decorations include
the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Service
Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation
Medal (with four oak leaf clusters), the Kuwait
Defense Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal with
a Bronze Star, and three Overseas Service Ribbons.
"His hobbies included working on cars and fishing," said
Eady. "Those that knew him well knew that he could fix just
about anything. I remember many times taking our lunch
hours back at Fort McPherson to fix one of our Soldiers cars
and be back to work on time."
Among those whom Silver leaves behind that will cherish
his memory are his wife, Mrs. Wanda Silver, mother Mrs.
Mary Silver, brother Tyrone Silver and his sister Mrs. Gladys
Stephenson.
"I will not forget, nor will I allow my comrades to forget,
that Sgt. Maj. Silver was a true professional, a non-commissioned
officer, a leader, hooah!" said Eady.
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