A soldier from Coral Springs was killed in Afghanistan, the Department of Defense announced Sunday.
Warrant Officer Joseph L. Schiro, 27, was one of two men who died Saturday from gunshot wounds suffered while on dismounted patrol, the DOD said.
Schiro was on his fifth combat deployment and his fourth to Afghanistan, the Army said in a statement. He is survived by his wife, three children and parents.
Schiro and Staff Sgt. Justin C. Marquez, 25, of Aberdeen, N.C., were killed in the Chak district in Wardak Province.
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Schiro enlisted in the Army in June 2004 as an airborne infantryman and was initially assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg. He deployed with the 3rd Battalion to Iraq for six months in 2006.
After returning to Fort Bragg, Schiro graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course in March 2008. He was then assigned to the 1st Special Forces Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) as a Special Forces communications sergeant, the Army said.
Schiro served on three deployments to Afghanistan with that battalion before he attended the Special Forces Warrant Officer Technical and Tactical Certification Course. He graduated in May and became an assistant detachment commander in Company B, the Army said.
Schiro's many awards include two Bronze Star Medals, two Army Commendation Medals, two Army Good Conduct Medals, and the National Defense Service Medal.
