Former Lee County man killed in explosion in Iraq

A former Alva resident serving in Iraq was killed earlier this week in an explosion in Ar Ramadi.

Staff Sgt. Marco A. Silva, 27, was one of two Army soldiers killed Monday when an improvised explosive device detonated while their group was being attacked by small arms fire.

Silva was living in Alva, in northeast Lee County, when he joined the Army in January 2002. From Alva, he moved to Cumberland City, Tenn., where he lived with his wife, Shannon Silva, and children, Zoe Silva, 3, and Tyler Johnson, 8.

Shannon Silva said Friday the couple met when they were in junior high in Homestead. They began dating when Shannon was 15 and Marco was 16. They married in August 1999.

Shannon Silva said she was drawn to his personality.

"He always made me laugh," Shannon said. "He was always joking and stuff."

Marco Silva lived in Alva for five years. While in Lee County he worked as a manager at a Domino's Pizza in Fort Myers. He also helped Shannon's father do maintenance work.

In his free time, Shannon Silva said, her husband enjoyed spending time with his kids and fishing. She said he liked being in the Army, where he served as a sniper. He has been in Iraq since November. It was his second tour of duty.

Silva

Silva was an infantryman assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team.

According to an Army news release, his awards and decorations included the Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, and Air Assault Badge.

Memorial services for Silva will be held from 6 p.m. to midnight on March 24 at the Palms Woodlawn Funeral Home, 27100 Old Dixie Highway, in Naranja The funeral will be March 25 at 10 a.m.

Silva is survived by his wife, children and parents Martha Cordova, of Hilton Head, S.C., and Fernando Silva, of Hollywood