ANTONIO REY RODRIGUEZ
February 8th, 2020
Name: SFC Antonio Rey Rodriguez
Hometown: Las Cruces, New Mexico
DOB: July 26th, 1991 DOD: February 8th, 2020
Entered Service: 2009
Deployments: 8 times with the 75th Ranger Regiment and twice with 7th Special Forces Group
Units: Delta Company, and 3rd Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Battalion Reconnaissance Platoon, Regimental Military Intelligence Battalion, 3rd Battalion 7th Special Forces Group’s (ODA-7313) Military Intelligence Detachment.
Education: One Station Unit Training (OSUT) to become an Infantryman (11B), U.S. Army Airborne School, Regimental Assessment and Selection Program (RASP), US Army Ranger School, Advanced Individual Training (AIT) to become a Cryptologic Linguist (35P)
Awards and Decorations: Bronze Star Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Achievement Medal (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), 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 Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, and the Parachutist Badge. SFC Rodriguez was posthumously promoted to SFC and awarded the Combat Action Badge, Bronze Star Medal, and Purple Heart.
Survived By: His wife Ronaleen Omega-Rodriguez of Southern Pines, NC, parents Guadalupe Rodriguez Jaramillo and husband Javier D. Jaramillo of Raleigh, NC, brothers Christopher James Rodriguez-Jaramillo and David Hernandez, Jr., sister Valerie Hernandez, father David Hernandez and wife Isela Hernandez, grandparents Reymond and Celia Rodriguez, uncle Jaime Rodriguez, aunts Maria Ellena Baca and Anita Rodriguez of Las Cruces, NM. Antonio is also survived by cousins Ruben Rodriguez, Diego Rodriguez, Natalia Baca, and Angelina Baca.
On February 8th, 2020 SFC Antonio Rey “ROD” Rodriguez was killed in action while conducting combat operations in the Sherzad District of Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan.
Growing up as a child, Antonio enjoyed playing in the pecan tree orchards preserved by his grandparents. He spent countless hours helping his grandparents during irrigation and harvesting seasons and would occasionally swim in the irrigation canals during the summer.
When not focused on work, Antonio loved to spend time with his wife Ronaleen and friends, lift weights, endure CrossFit workouts, play with the dogs, cook, and competitive shooting. Antonio will always be missed, but his legacy will forever live on.
As a tribute to her boy, Guadalupe Rodriguez-Jaramillo established the SFC Antonio Rey “ROD” Rodriguez Memorial Endowed Scholarship at New Mexico State University. In honor of her son, Guadalupe has vowed to the Department of Military Science to help award scholarships each year to eligible students enrolled in the Army/Air Force ROTC programs pursuing careers in the U.S. Armed Forces. In addition, Guadalupe Rodriguez-Jaramillo has also established the SFC Antonio Rey “ROD” Rodriguez Foundation. The foundation will represent what Antonio stood for: “Remember to Live.”
