Army SSG Rodrigo “Rudy” Santos

White Plains, NY

Rudy Santos always wanted to serve his country. After high school, he enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2003, and 2009, he joined the Army.

On October 10, 2010, during his third combat deployment, Staff Sergeant Santos was serving as a Cavalry Scout with Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 1st Squadron, 75th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division in Kandahar, Afghanistan, when his vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device (IED). He suffered severe injuries to his pelvis and spine, left arm, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and a below-the-knee amputation of his left leg.

He was evacuated to Landstuhl, Germany, and remained in a coma before transferring stateside to Walter Reed Medical Center, where he received treatment for more than three years for leg, pelvis and back injuries.

Rudy and his wife, Giselle, enjoy hiking and spending time outdoors.

Originally from New York, Rudy is choosing to remain in his home state.

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