Posted on 12/12/2013 6:33:18 PM PST by huldah1776
Matthew R. Rodriguez died while conducting combat operations
FAIRHAVEN, Mass. —A 19-year-old Marine from Fairhaven has been killed in Afghanistan.
Lance Cpl. Matthew R. Rodriguez died Wednesday while conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, the Department of Defense announced.
He was assigned to 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif
Rodriguez's father, Roland Rodriguez, told the Standard-Times of New Bedford the family is headed for Dover Air Force Base in Delaware where his son's body is expected Saturday.
He said declined to make extensive comments, but said his son "made a lot of friends very quickly" in the Marine Corps.
Matthew Rodriguez graduated in 2012 from the Greater New Bedford Voc-Tech plumbing program. A school friend, Ryan Boswell, told the newspaper Rodriguez "was a very funny guy, very likable. He was just a great kid. He would do anything for anybody."
His teacher Oscar Amaral also remembers Rodriguez's "easy going" personality. Amaral told the Standard-Times that Rodriguez had wanted to serve in the military.
"At least he accomplished that, even though it wasn't for very long," the teacher said. "If you want to accept that kind of responsibility, you have to be proud of it."
Matthew Rodriguez's awards include the National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and NATO Medal- ISAF Afghanistan, officials said.
NewsCenter 5 and WCVB.com will have more information when it becomes available.
RIP.
unless I missed one ......
I read the DoD news releases ever day , at least several times a week . Perhaps they do not report some? Suicides ?
Usually there is something about “ incident being investigated “
Please check back . Last I have was LCpl Christopher Grant on Oct. 20 . Chris was with 1/9
God bless them all .
The DOD news releases will give you the info you need if you can get past the home page propaganda.
Two can play your game:
Why don’t you just think that to die at age 19 is a tragedy?
Semper Fi Marine.
May the Lord ease the suffering of his family. Amen.
Do you honestly think there is anything in Afghanistan worth a single American life? Of any age?
no
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