SFC Antonio Rey Rodriguez began his journey to war hero at Las Cruces Catholic School. He attended from the year 1999 to the year 2005. Antonio was a beloved classmate to his peers and staff at LCCS. He participated in the school’s first year Robotics team, played saxophone in the school’s band, and was an altar server regularly for mass. Antonio thrived in academics and continued to do so at Mayfield High School. Upon graduation he enlisted in the United States Army.

SFC Antonio Rey Rodriguez, known by his teammates as “ROD,” began his career at Fort Benning, GA in 2009 where he attended both One Station Unit Training (OSUT) to become an Infantryman (11B) and US Army Airborne School. After his successful completion of both OSUT and Airborne School, SFC Rodriguez attended the Regimental Assessment and Selection Program (RASP). RASP is a selection program that requires successful completion to become a member of the elite 75th Ranger Regiment falling under United States Army Special Operations Command (USA

SOC). Upon completing assessment and selection, SFC Rodriguez was assigned to Delta Company, 3rd Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment headquartered in Fort Benning, GA. SFC Rodriguez deployed multiple times as an assaulter on the strike force before successfully completing US Army Ranger School. After earning the coveted Ranger Tab, he was then selected to be a Fire Team Leader in Delta Company. SFC Rodriguez was later assigned to the Battalion Reconnaissance Platoon, Headquarters and Headquarters Company. In 2017, SFC Rodriguez transitioned to the Regimental Military Intelligence Battalion (RMIB) where he attended Advanced Individual Training (AIT) to become a Cryptologic Linguist (35P). After leaving the Regimental Military Intelligence Battalion (RMIB), SFC Rodriguez was assigned to 3rd
Battalion 7th Special Forces Group’s (ODA-7313) Military Intelligence Detachment. On February 8th, 2020 SFC Rodriguez was killed in action while conducting combat operations in the Sherzad District of Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan. SFC Rodriguez

deployed 8 times with the 75th Ranger Regiment and twice with 7th Special Forces Group. SFC Rodriguez’s awards include the 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 awarded the Combat Action Badge, the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart.

In his memory, The SFC ANTONIO REY “ROD” RODRIGUEZ FOUNDATION is spearheaded by his mother, Guadalupe Rodriguez-Jaramillo. She humbly carries on his legacy with a foundation that supports the SOF community, veterans, and their families, and annual scholarships. You can find his name on the I-10/I-25 Roadway Memorial Interchange.

His story was shaped by his years at LCCS. Here, Antonio learned courage, community, service, integrity, discipline, and above all, a powerful relationship with God and his family. These things were cornerstones of his character.

To the world, SFC Rodriguez became known as a hero. To his classmates here at Holy Cross, he is always our Antonio.

Written lovingly by his classmate and peer, as per request by Guadalupe Rodriguez-Jaramillo, Molly Reid.