South Florida Soldier Killed In Afghanistan
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – A soldier from South Florida was killed over the weekend while on patrol in Afghanistan.
Before he deployed for Afghanistan for the fourth time, Warrant Officer Joseph Schiro threw a 60th wedding anniversary party for his grandparents.
Family was everything. And he had begun to celebrate the institution of marriage, according to his aunt Pat Schiro of Pompano Beach.
"He was really into celebrating marriage. He said no more birthdays, he said marriage is the thing to celebrate," Pat Schiro told CBS4's Joan Murray.
Only 27, Schiro, a graduate of Taravella High School in Coral Springs, was killed Saturday in Wardak Province, Afghanistan. The army says he died of wounds received from small arms fire.
He leaves behind his wife, three children, his parents, grandparents and many more relatives.
Schiro was assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
He enlisted in the Army in June 2004, as an Airborne Infantryman.
After serving on three deployments to Afghanistan, Schiro attended the Special Forces Warrant Officer Technical and Tactical certification course. He graduated in May and was assigned as an assistant detachment commander in Company B.
"He was just a great soldier and he didn't brag. He didn't tell you about it," said Pat Schiro.
"He was a military person. He wanted to make a difference in this country. He wanted to make a difference for the people in America and he believed in what he was doing. He brought out the best in people and that's what i'll take with me forever," added family friend Nick Dazzeo.
His aunt says when he announced he was enlisting, the choice, wasn't easy for Joseph Schiro's parents.
"He said 'dad you did take care of me all my life now it's my turn to take care of you'," said Pat Schiro.
Though modest about his achievements, the Army released an astounding list of awards that Schiro earned over the past few years. It includes two bronze star medals, two army commendation medals, two army achievement medals, the Afghanistan campaign medal with 3 campaign stars and the Iraq Campaign medal with 2 campaign stars..
Pat Schiro says Schiro's wife Diana has been a driving force in his life.
They met on a plane, both heading home from North Carolina. She was a student at Duke University and he was on leave.
Now she is left with the daunting task of raising the couple's three children who are just 3, 2, and eight months old.
"She's strong. She says now I've got to do it. Now I have to do an even better job because he'll be watching everything," said Schiro.
The Department of Defense said Staff Sgt. Justin Marquez from Aberdeen, North Carolina also died alongside Shiro while on dismounted patrol in the Chak district.
