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.
Rest in peace Corporal.
|
To die at that age in that hellhole for this president. God bless his family, what pain they must be in.
Prayers up for his family. That’s tough news to get just before Christmas.
May this brave young Marine rest in peace, and have a very high place in God’s Kingdom.
damn
while obamas sons go polar bear hunting
just damn
RIP
and my sincere condolences to the family
RIP young man.
.
All these beautiful young men... so sad.
MORE
WARS!
Especially to "Prop Up" our "Allies in Afghanistan"
Or the Muslim Brotherhood for that matter.
G-d Bless this Marine and his family.
See. I HATE this. I have a terrible time getting through these announcements. Have lost so much. We should have been so long gone from there. G-d help me with the feelings of utter revulsion I feel towards this cic. And G-d bless our Troops.
But our young men are suffering for this and our leaders don't even care.
But you Care
I care
That is what makes their fight worthwhile.
No need to apologize to me, KC. Some pain just never goes away. What upsets me is that it keeps happening and they keep letting it. It’s wrong and it’s evil to its core.
my deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Lance Corporal Rodriquez . 19 years old ....probably first combat tour .
I have to say I am so relieved that the casualty count is way down these days . The last U.S. Marine to be KIA was back on Oct. 20th . There used to be a few a week and sometimes many at one time . I am thankful for this diminishing .
Here’s what I pray for any Marines and Soldiers still in combat deployment in Afghanistan : That their commanders realize what insanity it is to lock them down under such strict rules of engagement . Let them shoot first , give them air support , and don’t treat them like cops with internal affairs on their back for every discharge of their weapons . God bless the United States Marine Corps , they keep us strong and free . We need to back them up 100% and stop all the political BS that they have lately been burdened with . Their commanders should know better . They need to be led by warriors , not lawyers .
RIP Lance Corporal and thank you .
Tears and prayers for his family...So thankful for the service of this Marine. Semper Fi
We are wasting good men here.
Time to bring ‘em all home, they are too precious to be there under the current sacrificial Rules of Engagement imposed by the effin’ POS Mac Daddy in the White Hut.
Bless Lance Cpl. Matthew Rodriguez and his family, prayers up.
That entire shithole was never worth the first drop of American blood. Damn Bush and Obama to hell.
To die at that age in that hellhole for any president is a tragedy.
I think you are wrong about the last Marine being killed on October 20th. My grandson is a Marine and I follow the news closely.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
