SSG Cesar Seda

Married to Asyadeed; father of three Staff Sgt. Cesar Seda lives to serve.

Seda, 37, helps injured and ill soldiers through long-term medical treatment. He ensures they attend appointments and receive pay, benefits and awards, and he arranges housing and transportation for their families, Sgt. 1st Class Bryan Nelson, his platoon sergeant, wrote nominating Seda for Army Times Soldier of the Year.

Seda’s ability to empathize with wounded soldiers and motivate them to achieve goals inspired a unit motto, “Everyone can do something,” said co-worker and nurse Rebecca Conner in her nomination.

In that spirit, Seda, of Carolina, Puerto Rico, organized an adaptive sports program through U.S. Paralympics and has helped soldiers prepare for the Warrior Games.

His selflessness continues off duty. He flies around the U.S. helping soldiers move into new homes, wrote co-worker Staff Sgt. Dierre Oliver.

An honor graduate of the Advanced Leadership Course, Seda launched Heroes in the Community in Fairbanks, Alaska, so soldiers could learn the meaning of “giving back.” The volunteer program has spent more than 1,000 hours helping youth sports, the Nation Kidney Foundation and the homeless.

“I can honestly say that I have not met, during my 15 years on active duty, a more knowledgeable and self-sacrificing leader,” Nelson wrote.