Remembering the Fallen - Sgt. Maj. Michael Silver

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.