Verona, Pa. ? A 24-year-old soldier from western Pennsylvania was killed in Iraq when an explosive device detonated near his mounted reconnaissance patrol vehicle, the Department of Defense said Sunday.

Army 1st Lt. Neil Anthony Santoriello, of Verona, was killed Friday in Khalidiyah, Iraq, officials said.

Santoriello was assigned to 1st Battalion, 34th Armor, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kan.

A man who answered the phone at a number listed under Santorielllo’s name identified himself as the soldier’s father but did not give his name and said the family did not wish to speak to reporters.

“My son was a hero,” the man said before hanging up the phone.