Rodriquez Relatives Keep The Faith
Balad-Ruz, Iraq
Last April a brave American Soldier, Specialist Michael Rodriquez was killed in action while serving in Iraq. But this was not the last that the Iraqi people had heard from the Rodriquez family.
Recently a shipment of school supplies arrived in Iraq, with a note. The note reads “These school supplies we are giving to you today are from the members of a Soldier who fought and died in Iraq, and from the family of someone who loved the Iraqi Children. His name was Spc. Michael Rodriquez.
A small presentation ceremony was given and presided over by Captain James Goethals, who is stationed in Diyala Province. He addressed a small crowd of teachers and about one hundred young ladies at the Primary School for Girls, Dur-Mandali School, in Balad-Ruz City.
Rodriquez was a Soldier with the Fifth Squadron, 73rd Cav. Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, and 82nd Airborne Division. His death came while serving with his unit in the As-Sadah area. Several Suicide Bombers attacked the Unit base with vehicles loaded with explosives.
In letters home to his family he wrote about how much he loved the local children and how they responded to him in a positive way. So Specialist Rodriquez’s family decided to make a donation to the school children of much needed school supplies.
After the presentation of the school supplies Ballad-Ruz Mayor Mohammed Rouf Hussein, and Morat Kadum, the Iraqi Superintendent of Schools addressed the assembled crowd.
Both spoke in appreciation of the donated supplies, and in thanks for the efforts of U.S. Forces and Coalition Troops serving and assisting the Iraqi People in the area.
