Army Staff Sergeant
LODD: September 10, 2007

On September 10th, 2007, United States Army Staff Sergeant Gregory Rivera-Santiago sustained fatal injuries in a non-combative vehicular accident while on his third deployment in Baghdad, Iraq.

Rivera-Santiago was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico and moved to St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands at a very young age. He was raised in St. Croix and graduated high school in 1999 with honors while also working at a grocery store in his free time. 

Rivera-Santiago enlisted in the Army in 1998 when he was only 17 years old. Throughout his career, Rivera-Santiago was deployed three times: once to Afghanistan and twice to Iraq. He is remembered for his devotion to his fellow soldiers, constantly taking them under his wing and teaching them valuable lessons. Rivera-Santiago was dedicated to his career, and showed an eagerness to learn and improve his skills and techniques in combat. 

U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Gregory Rivera-Santiago is survived by his wife, Brooke, his three children Ayani, Gregory IV, and Xiomara, his mother Carmen, father Gregory, sisters Inia and Jeanette, and his brother Ommi.

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