Fort Carson Soldier Remembered As Loving Dad

COLORADO SPRINGS – The family of Army Sgt. Michael Scusa says the Fort Carson soldier, formerly of Villas, N.J., set his sights on the military as a child.

In a statement read at Scusa’s funeral Friday in Colorado Springs, Lt. Col. Robert Brown said Scusa’s efforts in a battle that killed him preserved the lives of many.

Scusa was one of eight Fort Carson soldiers killed Oct. 3 in an attack in Afghanistan, after hundreds of insurgents armed with automatic rifles and rocket-propelled grenades attacked two U.S. outposts. It was one of the highest U.S. death tolls in Afghanistan in a single battle in more than a year.

Scusa was 22. He leaves behind his wife and a 1-year-old son. Scusa was posthumously promoted from specialist to sergeant.