Detachments: Tegucigalpa,
Vienna
MOS: 0341
OCCUPATION: Mortarman
USMC Bio:
Awards: Navy-Marine
Corps Achievement Medal and MSG Ribbon
in recognition of his
outstanding service to the MSG program and to the Corps
Personal
Bio
Mother:
Maria Conceicao Miguel
(Almeida)
Son:
Jose Carlos "J.C." Rodrigues
Brother / Wife: Tony and Maria Rodrigues
Additional Information:
Published
in the Boston Globe on 3/12/2004.
Jose Carlos Rodrigues
Of Medford, March 10. Father of Jose Carlos Rodrigues, Jr. Son of
Conceicao Miguel (Almeida). Stepson of Manuel Miguel. Brother of
Antonio Jose Almeida Rodrigues and his wife Maria. Grandson of Maria
Almeida. Also survived by aunts, uncles, one niece, one nephew, cousins
and friends. Funeral from the Rogers Funeral Home, 380 Cambridge St.,
CAMBRIDGE, Monday at 10 am. Funeral Mass at St. Anthony's Church,
Cambridge at 11:00am. Visiting hours Sunday 1-5pm. Donations in his
memory may be made to The American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St.,
Framingham, MA 01701. Sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps.
A
letter to JC ... from MSgt David
A.
Blyar (Detachment Commander - Tegucigalpa,
Honduras 2003 )
- To help you know the special person your father was
|
Dear JC,
Nothing would make me happier than to not have to write this
letter. However, I do so with the utmost respect and love for
your father. I have started to write this letter numerous
times and hope this time I will complete it. The importance of
this letter has always left me feeling that I was unable to express in
words how I feel.
I had the pleasure of serving with your father on Marine Security Guard
duty in Tegucigalpa, Honduras in 2002 and
2003. He and I, along with 9 other Marines, were responsible for
the internal security of the US Embassy. Your father was an
unwavering and loyal professional. Everyone knew that the job was
getting done the best it could while he was on duty. In addition
to his professionalism, he was the most kind natured and friendly
Marine I have ever met. He always had a smile on his face and a
willing hand regardless of the task. I do not ever recall a time
when he turned down the opportunity to help someone. Whether it
was making sure visitors to the embassy were being directed to the
appropriate office or extra duties were being performed, he always had
a smile on his face. I always knew that when he came to work, he
would say, “Hello my boss, do you need anything?”
When not at work, your father would still spend the majority of his
time doing things that would help others. Not only did he do
things to help out the Marines, he did things to help out others, in
the community, as well. If someone did not speak Spanish, he
would help by translating. If someone needed something from in
town and did not know where to find it, he would help them.
During the Christmas season he would help out by collecting toys and
redistributing them to children at local orphanages. Then after
giving them the toys, he would stay and play with the children.
Your father was the kind of man that everyone enjoyed being around and
we are all better people because of him. Everyone learned
something from him by watching the way he interacted with others.
Regardless of the situation, you could not help but feel better after
having spoken with him. Everyone loved him and he treated
everyone as if they were special.
Although
I only knew your father for a relatively short time, I consider him a
brother and an important part of my family. I know that he
affected my wife, Lili, and children, Esteban and Sofia, greatly as
well. The time he spent with us as part of our family will always
bring great memories to mind and smiles to our faces. Whether we
are thinking of our time together on the beaches of Roatan, hiking in
La Tigra, gatherings with friends, or your father sitting on the couch
playing a guitar and singing to the children, he will continue to make
us smile.
I know many years will have passed by the time you are old enough to
read and understand this, however, it is important that you know how
great your father was and how much of an affect he had on people during
his short life. In life and in death my family and I love and
care very deeply for your father. We are better people for having
known him and will spend the rest of our lives wishing we could have
spent one more day with him.
Master Sergeant David A.
Blyar
1st Marine Division
Communications Company
(Det Cmdr Tegucigalpa 2002-2003)
Letter dated: 12 Aug 2005
|
|
MSgt Kevin J. Kelley
Detachment Commander
MSG Detachment,
American Embassy,
Vienna, Austria
Sgt Jose C. Rodrigues
served here in Vienna with the MSG Detachment from 23 Dec 02 to 3 May
03. He was an 0341 (Mortarman). From his first day in
Vienna I was totally impressed by his professionalism and
demeanor. He carried out all of his duties in an exemplary
manner. He was assigned as the MWR NCO and managed to bring that
fund out of the murky depths and increased its value four-fold in a few
short months. Sgt Rodrigues was liked by all and was the picture
perfect example of a Marine and Marine Security Guard. His
condition came without any prior warning but even when he was diagnosed
here in Vienna he never complained or lost hope. After his
departure we managed to raise $8,000 to purchase $16,000 (face value)
worth of savings bonds for the future education expenses of his son,
Jose Jr. This money was donated by individuals in Vienna and from posts
around the world. Sgt Rodriguez was awarded the Navy-Marine Corps
Achievement Medal and MSG Ribbon in recognition of his outstanding
service to the MSG program and to the Corps. If he had remained
at this post I have no doubt he would have left here a Meritorious
Staff Sergeant. We kept in close contact with Jose throughout his
ordeal and he always presented a positive image. He fought the
battle the best he could. He is missed by all. In his
honor, we have dedicated our Detachment office to him and have affixed
a metal plate
on the door stating this,
along with his picture. The Corps and society has lost another
good man long before his time.
Respectfully,
MSgt Kevin J. Kelley
|
Sgt Rodrigues Wake,
Jack McGarry -
MEGA Representative
|
14Mar2004 -
Rogers Funeral Home,
Cambridge, MA
My
wife Rosangela and I have just returned from the Rodrigues wake in Cambridge Massachusetts.
The service is what it should be, a tribute to the spirit of an
outstanding
Marine.
Carlos
was waked and buried in dress
blues, meticulously dressed, and carefully placed within the casket,
seemingly
at attention. Sadly, it is obvious that the battle he succumbed to, had
taken a
lot out of him, and I am grateful to know he isn't suffering any longer.
Upon
entering the Roger's Funeral home we
paid our respects to Carlos, and then to his Mom and brother, Tony. The
family
is taking it hard but is sincerely grateful for the support they are
receiving
from the Corps.
Eyeing
the room full of the predominantly
Portuguese family and friends it was fairly easy to pick out a lone
Marine,
Master Sergeant David Blyar and his wife Lily. Carlos had spoken highly
of this
leader, his NCOIC at the embassy in Tegucigalpa.
MSgt
Blyar informed me he'd
been
yanked from school at Quantico by MSG
Bn's XO
and sent up to Massachusetts
as Bn's representative. After completing school he is scheduled back to
Iraq
with the
1st Marine Division, sometime in May. MSgt's Wife Lily has spent the
past few
days informing Sgt Rodrigues former det-mates of his passing.
The
Ambassador in Tegucigalpa
walked into the det commander's
office on Friday and told him that if there were any existing Marines
who knew
Carlos, that the Ambassador would cover their expenses for a trip to
the
funeral.
Brothers,
Carlos spoke so highly of MSgt
Blyar, and about how great it had been to serve with him. Prior to
leaving Tegucigalpa
for Vienna
Carlos had been informed that his detachment had won "Detachment of the
Year", he'd said it was because of MSgt's Blyar's leadership. MSgt
Blyar
spoke proudly of his Marines. Of the dedication of each, but especially
of the
positive spirit which Sgt Rodrigues motivated everyone in the embassy.
He had
been the type of Marine who could be counted on, and the impact of his
transfer
to Vienna
was
particularly noticed with his missing spirit during Det Happy Hours.
MSgt
Blyar's wife expressed how involved Carlos had gotten with the kids at
the
embassy, and how they all missed him.
MSgt
Blyar and I spoke of leadership, and leadership style. Having met
Carlos, I'd
been impressed with the kindness, and dedication of this Marine. After
meeting
MSgt Blyar, I'm greatly impressed by the kind of Marine a good Staff
NCOIC is
able to inspire. I've seen that in our brotherhood, and am honored to
be part
of this organization, and proud of the "mother ship" that spawned us.
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Pictures
from Sgt Rodrigues funeral:
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