Photo By Staff Sgt. James Hunter | Col. Arthur Kandarian, commander, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division...... read more read more
Subscribe
FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. — Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Master Sgt. (Retired) Luis Rodriguez joined the Army in 1990 as an Army Medic.
Over the years, Rodriguez would serve in a variety of units and in an assortment of jobs, such as a line medic, flight medic, treatment non-commissioned officer, and even an instructor at the Rascon School of Combat Medicine.
But it was his time as a medical platoon sergeant with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment that would change his life forever.
While deployed to Mosul in northern Iraq in November 2003, Rodriguez and his medics were sent on a mission to check out a local hospital. They would never make it to the Iraqi hospital, as their convoy was hit by an improvised explosive device.
During an interview in 2006 with Eric Weiner of the National Public Radio, Rodriguez said, "What I felt was somebody putting a metal bucket on my head, and hitting me with a baseball bat."
His head was ringing and the convoy began receiving sporadic enemy gun-fire, and on top of all that Rodriguez was in pretty bad shape.
Another medic pulled him from his vehicle and began placing a tourniquet around his right leg.
Rodriguez asked about his leg, and all he heard was silence. His first sergeant, however, told him that it was gone.
Rodriguez lost his right leg and now feared for his life as he was bleeding heavily from his extremity.
During the interview, all he could think about during this tumultuous time was seeing his wife and kids.
Rodriguez would survive and would begin recovering at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
Rodriguez would eventually retire in September 2007, but his service to his country is far from over.
On Nov. 6, Rodriguez replaced Command Sergeant Major (Retired) Harvey P. Appleman as the Honorary Command Sergeant Major of the 502nd Infantry Regiment and 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).
Appleman, who served as the regiments first HCSM for the last 25 years, was an active link between the past and present Soldiers of the regiment.
"In his service as the Honorary Command Sergeant Major, he has displayed unwavering dedication in building regimental continuity and esprit de corps," said Col. Arthur Kandarian, commander, 2nd BCT. "He continues to instill in our Strike Soldiers and leaders of the 502nd Regiment with a keen sense of duty, selfless service, and love of country."
Kandarian said Appleman exemplified his responsibilities and served in the best interests of the historic regiment, ensuring all truly understood the proud traditions and history of the "five-o-deuce."
Kandarian asked Rodriguez to continue in the proud tradition and selfless service needed to maintain the regiment's traditions, lineage and history.
Rodriguez is very thankful and proud to now represent the great Soldiers of this historic regiment, because it was nearly six years ago this month that Soldiers of the 502nd put their lives on the line to bring him home to his family.
"...I left part of my body in Iraq," he said as he spoke to the Soldiers of the Strike Brigade. "Being a medic I know what it is to provide care, but that day... I was on the other side — I was a casualty. The five-o-second brought me home."
Rodriguez said his time in the 502nd was an experience he'll never forget. The men he served with pushed through tough times though often overwhelmed by enemy forces. They never left behind a fallen comrade, and, "that's something I carry in my heart for the rest of my days."
Rodriguez looks forward to his next tour with the five-o-second, this time as the regiment's Honorary Command Sergeant Major.
He did, however, have one last message for the troops of Strike that day. "Make sure you bring hell to the enemy when it's time to bring hell."
| Date Taken: | 11.06.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 11.16.2009 16:20 |
| Story ID: | 41650 |
| Location: | FORT CAMPBELL, US |
| Web Views: | 567 |
| Downloads: | 167 |
This work, Rodriguez takes on charge as regiment's Honorary Command Sergeant Major, by SSG James Hunter, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
