Fort Benning Ranger dies of natural causes

Staff Sgt. Pedro Brandao Lacerda, a U.S. Army Ranger assigned to the 75th Ranger Regiment, died Saturday as a result of complications due to a spontaneous brain aneurysm.

Lacerda, 30, a Ranger Assessment and Selection Program instructor with the Regimental Special Troops Battalion at Fort Benning, was leading a squad size element of RASP students through physical training on Friday when he collapsed, according to post public affairs. He was taken to Martin Army Community Hospital, placed on life support and transferred to Columbus Regional Medical Center, where he died the following day.

“Staff Sgt. Lacerda was loved by all and considered the most lethal man in the Regiment with his hands. As an instructor in our Ranger Assessment and Selection Program, he was instrumental in developing Rangers,” said Col. Michael E. Kurilla, commander, 75th Ranger Regiment, in a release. “He was instrumental in the 75th Ranger Regiment’s and Army’s Combatives program. His contributions and legacy to the 75th Ranger Regiment will live on in the hundreds of Rangers he trained.”

Lacerda was part of the first U.S. Army team to compete last month in the Pan American Jiu Jitsu Championships in Irvine, Calif., where he won his first match. Prior to joining the Army he competed in the same games and won the gold in 1998, 1999 and 2002. In 2009, Lacerda captured the welterweight title at the All-Army Combatives Championship on Fort Benning. His talent on the mat and leadership capabilities off of it proved instrumental to the development of both the 75th Ranger Regiment and Army Combatives programs.

“Staff Sergeant Lacerda was a hard-core Ranger and an All-Army combatives champion, yet also was the nicest guy you ever met,” said Lt. Col. Brian Eifler, Regimental Special Troops Battalion Commander, 75th Ranger Regiment, in a release. “We are all going to miss him.”

Lacerda enlisted in the U.S. Army in November 2005 in Knoxville, Tenn. He completed One Station Unit Training, Basic Airborne Training and the Ranger Indoctrination Program at Fort Benning and was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment where he served as an assistant machine gunner, machine gunner, squad automatic weapon gunner, gun team leader and team leader.

In October 2008, Lacerda moved to RSTB to serve as an instructor for Rangers new to the 75th Ranger Regiment. He deployed twice to Iraq and once to Afghanistan.

Lacerda’s military education includes the Basic Airborne Course, Ranger Indoctrination Training, the U.S. Army Ranger Course, Warrior Leader Course and Combatives — Levels 1, 2 and 3.

His awards and decorations include the Ranger Tab, Combat Infantryman’s Badge and Parachutist’s Badge. He has also been awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan campaign Medal with combat star, Iraq Campaign Medal with combat star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Army Service Ribbon. He will be posthumously awarded the Army Meritorious Service Medal.

A native of Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, Lacerda is survived by his wife, Marina B. Lacerda, his children Yasmin and Pepe, his father, Pedro Lacerda, his brother, Marcelo Lacerda and his sister, Tatina Lacerda; all of Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.

This story was originally published June 2, 2010 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Fort Benning Ranger dies of natural causes."