United States Air Force Staff Sergeant • Line of Duty Death: January 18, 2018

United States Air Force Staff Sergeant Benito Ivan Granillo passed away on January 18, 2018 as a result of service-related cancer.

Granillo was born in Salinas, California and raised in Patterson, California. In 2001, two years after graduating from high school in 1999, Granillo enlisted in the US Air Force. He served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and was later deployed to Saudi Arabia in 2003. In 2009, Granillo voluntarily deployed to Balad. In 2010, after nine honorable years of service, he retired as Staff Sergeant representing the Ammo Troop. Throughout his career, Granillo earned many awards, including the Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon with Oak Leaf cluster, Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal, and Air Force Achievement Medal, among numerous others. In addition to his military career, Granillo was an electrician for over 17 years. He ended his electrician career as a Journeyman before succumbing to his military-related illness.

United States Air Force Staff Sergeant Benito Ivan Granillo is survived by his wife, Jeana, his sons, Nolan and Logan, his parents, Benito and Rosa, his siblings, Vanessa, Rosanna, his parents-in-law, siblings-in-law, and his nephew and niece.

The Tunnel to Towers Foundation has paid off the mortgage of the Granillo family home through the Gold Star Family Home Program.