Hero WOD Friday April 21, 2017

In honor of U.S. Army Sergeant Anibal Santiago, 37, of Belvidere, Illinois, died on July, 18, 2010

A Fort Benning Ranger died over the weekend from wounds received during combat, the U.S. Department of Defense said.

Sgt. Anibal Santiago, 37, of Belvidere, Ill., was hurt on Saturday when he fell from a high altitude over mountains in Khowst Province, Afghanistan. He died on Sunday from those injuries, the defense department said.

Santiago was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment.

“I wish the American public had an opportunity to know Sgt. Santiago,” said Col. Michael E. Kurilla, commander with the 75th Ranger Regiment, in a release. “He embodied the Ranger ethos — an American patriot, incredibly lethal sniper and was always at his best when conditions were the worst. He is a hero to our nation, the 75th Ranger Regiment, and his family.”

Santiago was on third deployment. Previously, he had been deployed once to Iraq and once to Afghanistan, the defense department said.

Santiago served as a police officer in Chicago before enlisting with the Navy as a Sailor in October 2001. He joined the Army in October 2007.