georgia

21-Year-Old Football Star, East Bay Native Dies at U.S. Army Ranger School

A 21-year-old soldier from Walnut Creek died after falling ill during his first day of U.S. Army Ranger School in Georgia earlier this week, Army officials said.

2nd Lt. Michael Parros, 21, died Wednesday after being treated for hyponatremia, a condition in which the level of sodium in the blood is too low, according to Army officials at Fort Benning where he was in training.

Parros fell ill on Monday and died on Wednesday. He had reported to Fort Benning for training on June 27 after graduating from the U.S. Army Military Academy in May.

Parros was a former football player at Concord's De La Salle High School and went on to play football, hockey and soccer while at West Point while also being a member of the school's Cultural Affairs Club, Army officials said.

"This is a tragic loss," Lt. Co. Matthew Weber said in a statement. "While 2nd Lt. Parros was only with us for a short time, he showed so much potential and was the epitome of the kind of soldier you want to serve with. We are truly saddened to lose a member of our Army family."

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the Parros family and friends during this exceptionally challenging time," Weber said.

Parros played multiple positions for De La Salle's football team, which won the state title in December 2011 in his senior season before he graduated in 2012.

Contact Us