Fiancé of soldier found dead at Fort Jackson

I’m fundraising for Erin Kern, the fiancé of SSG Jaime Contreras. SSG Contreras was a member of the 1st Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, 82nd Division Artillery, 82nd Airborne Division and a drill sergeant candidate who was recently found dead during a routine training exercise at Fort Jackson in Columbia, SC.

Jaime and his fiancé Erin moved to Roseboro, NC almost one year ago with the intention of growing old together. Together they purchased and started renovating what they described as “their dream home”. Jaime and Erin were always together, laughing, cooking, watching movies, and talking about their dreams for the future.

“Jaime was my entire world. He would tell me that I was his peace and comfort, but he was everyone’s peace and comfort. He was a born caregiver. He was incredibly funny and so loving. He had the biggest heart. He loved hiking with his kids and exploring new places, he loved cooking with me and found enjoyment out of watching horrible movies. We spent a lot of time renovating our new home and dreaming about the future. Home is where his heart is.”

His death has been unexpected to say the least and now his fiancé is worried about how she will keep the home they created together. Erin and Jaime had plans to finalize their marriage later in the month but as his fiancé she does not get treated as his wife. Erin will not receive any sort of beneficiary payments and is now stuck paying Jaime’s bills as well as her own without help. I am making this gofundme as her daughter-in-law in order to maybe help relieve some of the financial stress that’s been placed on her during this time of mourning. I know that Jaime would be devastated to see her lose the home they created together.

“I didn’t just lose Jaimé. I lost everything we worked for. I’m just the fiancé… I don’t think I will be able to live in this house we bought together. Our plans and dreams went with him,”

“Paratroopers never die! They just slip away!”

https://www.wistv.com/2023/06/15/fianc-82nd-airborne-division-soldier-found-dead-fort-jackson-speaks-out/?outputType=amp

https://www.wistv.com/video/2023/06/15/family-remembers-fort-jackson-service-member/