Soldier Honored: Joseph L. Schiro,

Army Warrant Officer Joseph L. Schiro, 27, of Coral Springs, Florida, was assigned to 1^st Special Forces Battalion, 3^rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) based in Fort Bragg, North Carolina and served during Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. On October 6, 2010, WO1 Schiro died of wounds caused by small-arms fire in the Chak district of Afghanistan.

WO1 Schiro enlisted in the Army in June 2004 as an airborne infantryman. After completing his initial Infantry and Airborne training at Fort Benning, Georgia, he was assigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Upon his return from a six-month deployment to Iraq, WO1 Schiro volunteered for the Special Forces Assessment and Selection and was chosen to attend the Special Forces Qualification Course. He graduated in March 2008 as a Special Forces Communications Sergeant. After serving on three deployments to Afghanistan, WO1 Schiro attended the Special Forces Warrant Officer Technical and Tactical Certification Course.  WO1 Schiro’s awards and accolades include two Bronze Star medals, Purple Heart, two Army Commendation medals, two Army Achievement medals, and two Army Good Conduct medals, in additional to many others, for his service and sacrifice.

Soldiers called WO1 Schiro the “embodiment of integrity, and a true military leader.” They said he had a “gentle spirit” and “helpful nature.” One soldier said, “he lived a life full of accomplishments.”  Diana Schiro, WO1 Schiro’s wife, told stories of how the couple traveled to Hawaii with their children for three days and how she told him she’d “rather live crazy with you than predictable without you.” She was amazed by his selflessness and his faith.

All three of the Schiro children are Folds of Honor Scholarship recipients.