KION - Monterey, Salinas, Santa Cruz - News Weather-Family Questions How Local Soldier Died

Family Questions How Local Soldier Died

GREENFIELD, Calif- The Silva  family is still trying to get a handle on the death of their beloved son and brother.

"I came home and it was true my son was dead" said his father. 

101st Airborne Division Soldier Spc. Eduardo S. Silva, 25, of Greenfield died on June 9 of non-combat related injuries in Bagram, Afghanistan. Lalo, as he was know by family and friends, was serving his third tour of duty in Afghanistan.

His family still has many unanswered questions about Lalo's death.

The family says that, according to the army, another guy in his unit found Lalo's body lying in the bed at 1:30am. Beyond that, his family does not know much and that is leading to speculation.

"They say one of the guys in his unit found him, but right now when I read the news from Kabul it says he was killed in an accident. I just say why don't they tell me the truth? " Said Eduardo Silva Sr.

Lalo was a was a food service specialist, and his father said that he thought that he was safe because he was not out fighting.

"I can be peace with him dying in combat but not in his bed because of an accident", said his father.

The Army is currently investigating Lalo's death, something that the army says is routine. The family is hoping that the Army will be able to answer those questions when the autopsy results are finalized.

The last time that his family saw Lalo was back in April, when he was home for two weeks.  KION actually interviewed him because of a gas leak that had most of south county with out gas.

"I wanted to take a warm shower, but unfortunate because of the gas leak I was not able to do that. I had to take a cold shower." Lalo said.

According to his brother Ricky he left all of his friends to go see Lalo when he came home, "I knew we only had two weeks to see him and who knows they could have been my last, and sure enough."

The viewing for Spc. Eduardo S. Silva will be from 5 PM to 8 PM ,June 17 at the Holy Trinity Church, 803 Elm Ave. in Greenfield. The Funeral will be at 10 AM on June 18. 

He is survived by his wife, Rosalinda Silva, of King City, Calif.; and parents, Sara and Eduardo Silva, of King City, Calif.

Silva's awards and decorations include: Army Commendation Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Afghanistan Campaign Medal; Iraqi Campaign Medal; Korean Defense Medal; Army Service Ribbon; and Weapons Qualification: M4-rifle, expert.