Brigadier General Michael J. Silva (center) at Balad Air Force Base, Iraq, in 2007. U.S. Army Reserve Brigadier General Michael J. Silva has died at the age of 66, according to his daughter’s social posts on his media. The West Point Alumni Association confirmed Silva’s death on its website on Tuesday, January 3, 2023. ()
MANHATTAN, Kansas (Tribune Content Services) — U.S. Army Reserve Brigadier General Michael J. Silva has died at the age of 66.
Silva, who graduated from MHS in 1974, died Monday at his home in Olathe, Kansas. Christina Silva, her daughter of Silva, confirmed the news of her father’s death on social media on Monday, saying that her father “Rest in peace on this earth surrounded by her loved ones.” He took his last breath,” he wrote.
“It is with great sadness that we share that God has called another loyal soldier home,” Silva’s family wrote on his Facebook account on Monday. , you can lay down your sword and rest.”
Silva was born on August 28, 1956. Silva entered the MHS Wall of Fame in 2008, according to the Manhattan High School Alumni Association. During his time at MHS, Silva applied for his ROTC scholarship at Kansas State University. A professor of military sciences in K State and a counselor at MHS encouraged him to attend the West Point Military Academy, where he was accepted and graduated from West Point in 1978.
The West Point Alumni Association confirmed Silva’s death on its website on Tuesday.During a 33-year Army career, Silva served in operations, training, and in a variety of missions, including deployments to Afghanistan, Iraq and Qatar. , senior staff officer, and commander. He also toured the Pentagon for the Iraqi Interagency Assistance Group, which resolves issues between the Pentagon and the State Department. In addition, he deployed as commander of the 411th Engineer Brigade in Balad, Iraq, supporting Multinational Corps Iraq.
In 2017, Silva was named National President of the Army Reserve Officers Association, succeeding retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Walker Williams III. In 1988, Silva received his first General Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award. The following year, Silva’s engineer company won the Lieutenant General Emerson Itchner Award for being the best engineer corps in the U.S. Army. He has been awarded the Combat Action Badge, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, and many other medals for his achievements.
Silva holds a master’s degree in business administration from Furman-Clemson University and a master’s degree in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College. Most recently, she worked as a financial advisor for The General Associates Wealth Advisors in Olathe, Kansas.
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