Assigned to the security element while other members of his team led two platoons of Afghan National Security Forces into Ganjgal Village for a pre-dawn meeting with village elders. Then-Staff Sergeant Rodriguez-Chavez heard over the radio that the dismounted patrol was ambushed by roughly fifty enemy fighters in fortified positions. With four members of his team in immediate danger of being surrounded, he drove a gun-truck, with one other Marine as his gunner, forward into the kill zone of a well prepared ambush. With only the machine gun fires of his gunner to suppress the enemy, he ignored heavy enemy fires and drove the vehicle into the kill zone three times to cover the withdrawal of the combined force and evacuate two dozen members of the Afghan National Security Forces. With complete disregard for his own personal safety, he made a fourth trip into the deepest point of the kill zone in another gun-truck with three other U.S. personnel to recover the bodies of the fallen team members. He positioned his vehicle to shield the U.S. members from the intense enemy fire as they dismounted to recover their bodies. By his decisive actions, bold initiative, and selfless dedication to duty, Staff Sergeant Rodriguez-Chavez reflected great credit upon himself and the Marine Corps and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
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OORAHH MARINE. Well done
Semper Fi do or die! For God, Country, and Corps! Period!
OOOORAH, Semper Fi and hats off to the Gunny. One helluva job well done. Also gotta tip my hat to Commandant. Not too many Generals willing to walk around with anything less than ‘Expert’ rifle and pistol badges
Aviator. 🙂
Semper Fi in action!
Semper Fi Devil Dog
It gives me great pride to see an Hispanic Marine take control and show his leadership and courage when the SHTF. Ever so few Marines of Spanish heritage are given a fair shake in my Marine Corps and to make things worse for us we don’t whine or yell racism! We keep it to ourselves and march ahead doing our duty to our country and our fellow Marines. I saw a lot of injustice towards Spanish surnamed Marines while in the Corps back in the 70s (71-76) but I hope that these fellow Leathernecks can now be treated with the same care and opportunities that I saw black or Anglo-Saxons receive. Bravo!!! GnySgt Rodriguez you have made many Spanish (Mexican heritage) Marines such as myself beam with pride and honor. Well done Marine you have become a future light for other young Marines to look up to. “I salute you and the Marine Corps whom I love.”
I don`t know about you others but I don`t see a Hispanic all I see is two MARINES. Semper Fi Marines
Outstanding Gunny Rodriguez ! Silvestre Herrera is smiling at you from above. Silvestre was born in Camargo, Chihuahua, Mexico in 1916 and although he was not officially a US citizen, he served in the Army in WWII and was awarded the US Medal of Honor by President Truman in August, 1945. He also received Mexico’s highest award for valor, was the first Arizonan to be awarded the Medal of Honor and later became a naturalized US citizen.
Ginny’s are the backbone of the Corps. They are leaders and examples of what a Marine should be Semper Fi Gunnr Rodriguez. Well Done. Chesty Puller looks down on you and is certainly smiling!!!!
Gunnys are the backbone of the Corps. They are leaders and examples of what a Marine should be Semper Fi Gunny Rodriguez. Well Done. Chesty Puller looks down on you and is certainly smiling!!!!
This is the man that was driving the vehicle that Dakota Meyer was serving as the gunner on! Everyone knows who Dakota is, having been awarded the Medal of Honor, but SSGT. Chavez, not so much! I don’t understand why he wasn’t also awarded the MOH..
AH, no wonder this writeup sounded familiar! Anyhow, OOH-RAH to both. As to the SHARPSHOOTER Gen – I shot EXPERT 5 times, and one SHARPSHOOTER, at Qual-day in PI ’68 … guess who got the SS badge -me ! The DI’s got their ribbon for me replacing the 5 PIT_BIRDS that day!
Staff Sergeant Rodriguez-Chavez proudly wear that Navy Cross. You are a credit to your Marine Corps.
An excellent job Marine! Here is too you and too our Corps which we proudly serve…..continue to set the kind of example that those who follow might also reach for— Semper Fi my brother
Ooohrahh Marine!!! Job damn well done, damn well done!