Two Fort Benning Rangers died April 23 during combat operations in Afghanistan, the U.S. Department of Defense said.

Sgt. Ronald Alan Kubik, 22, of Brielle, N.J., and Sgt. Jason Anthony Santora, 25, of Massapequa Park, N.Y., were seriously hurt while fighting in Logar Province.

Unit medical personnel treated the Rangers, both of whom later died from their wounds, the defense department said.

The Rangers were assigned to Company D, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment.

“Sergeant Kubik and Sergeant Santora were warriors, true patriots and absolute heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our nation,” said Col. Michael E. Kurilla, commander of the 75th Ranger Regiment, in a release.

Kubik joined the Army in March 2007 and served more than two years as an assistant machine gunner and rifle team leader with Company D. Kubik previously had been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan and was on his third deployment, the defense department said.

Santora joined the Army in March 2006. He served as a mortar platoon ammunition bearer in Headquarters and Headquarters Company for more than three years.

He was also a rifle team leader with Company D. Santora, who was on his fourth deployment, previously had been deployed to Afghanistan and twice to Iraq, the defense department said.

Kubik is survived by his parents and a sister. Santora is survived by his parents, a sister and an uncle.