When Sgt. Rodriguez first came to the 264th I honestly thought he was an asshole. He was always yelling and getting pissed off at his soldiers. I remember thinking, "man I'm glad I'm not in his platoon." But, as I got to know him I grew to respect him more and more. Temper aisde, he's a great leader. He's the kind of NCO (Non-Commisioned Officer) who help you with anything regardless of whether or not you are one of his soldiers. He'll drop whatever he's doing just to give you a hand. I would talk to him every day and we'd kid around and shoot the breeze. You can talk to him about any problem you have big or small and he'd always know how to help. Hell, he'd probably give the shirt off his back you need it. Sgt. Rodriguez is also dead. He died last night in an ambush. He had a wife and daughter back home, and the last thing he said to me was, "I can't wait to see them again.

"I can't wait to hold my kid, drink a beer, and kiss my wife."

The last time I saw him, he also told me he was goin on R&R in two weeks.

Rest in peace brother...