SFC Antonio Rodriguez, age 28, of Las Cruces, New Mexico, died February 8, 2020 from wounds sustained during combat operations in Nangarhar rovince, Afghanistan.
“Sgt. 1st Class Rodriguez was selfless and served honorably; he was certainly among the best in our unit. Here at the Red Empire, we take care of our own, and Sgt. 1st Class Rodriguez’ family will forever be a part of us, we will assist them in any way we can to help them through these trying times.”
Colonel John Sannes, 7th Special Forces Group Commander
Born and raised in Las Cruces, New Mexico, July 26, 1991, SFC Antonio Rodriguez graduated from Mayfield High School in 2009. He enlisted in the U.S. Army, October 13, 2009, and attended One Station Unit Training at Fort Benning, Georgia. After completing OSUT he attended the Basic Airborne Course and the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program. He was then assigned to the 3rd Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. In June 2018 Rodriguez voluntarily re-classified as a Cryptologic Linguist (Spanish).
Rodriguez deployed eight times with the 75th Ranger Regiment and twice with 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel.
He graduated from the Basic, Advanced and Senior Leader Courses; U.S. Army Airborne School; Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape School; Special Operations Language Course (Spanish); the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program and the U.S. Army Ranger School.
Rodriguez’s awards and decorations include: Bronze Star Medal; Joint Service Commendation Medal; Army Commendation Medal (1OLC); Army Achievement Medal (1OLC); Army Good Conduct Medal (second award); National Defense Service Medal; Afghanistan Campaign Medal (two Campaign Stars); Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (Numeral 2); Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon; NATO Medal; Ranger Tab; Combat Infantry and Parachutist Badges.
Staff Sgt. Rodriguez was posthumously promoted to Sgt. 1st Class and awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart. He leaves behind his wife.
**********
References:
February 10, 2020. “Las Cruces man killed in combat remembered as one of the best”, Las Cruces Sun News.
Photo: SFC Antonio Rodriguez photo provided by the PAO of the United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC).
