Sergeant Jose Maria Pasillas was born on 28 January 1980 in Pomona, California. He graduated from Success High School, Fort Worth, Texas in 1998. On 9 January 2001, Sergeant Pasillas enlisted in the Army. He attended Basic Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina and Advance Individual Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. From July 2001-July 2012 he was assigned as a Construction Equipment Repairmen with the 503d Construction Support Maintenance Company and then the 659th Construction Support Maintenance Company at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He deployed to Afghanistan in 2002 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and to Iraq three times from 2004-2010 in support of Operation Iraqi. In August 2012, he was reassigned to the 84th Engineer Support Company (Airborne) at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.
Sergeant Pasillas' awards and decorations include: the Army Commendation Medal (4), the Army Achievement Medal (3), the Good Conduct Medal (4), the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one Bronze Star, the Iraq Campaign Medal with one Bronze Star, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon (2), the Parachutist Badge, and the Driver and Mechanic Badge (2). Sergeant Pasillas graduated from the US Army Airborne School in 2001.
Sergeant Pasillas is survived by his wife, Marie; their two children, Gabriel (5 years) and Sofia (2 year); his mother, Graciela, his father, Juan; his two sisters, Letty and Maria and brother, Juan.
The family will receive friends on Tuesday, February 18, 2014 at Sullivan's Highland Funeral Service from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.
A funeral mass will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 19, 2014 at St. Patrick Catholic Church with the rendering of full military honors.
Interment will be at a later date at St. Patrick Catholic Church Columbarium.
Services entrusted to Sullivan's Highland Funeral Service, and Crematory of Fayetteville, NC.
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