Albert Eduardo RodriguezCaptain480TH TFS, 366TH TFW, 7TH AF United States Air Force 18 July 1942 - 09 October 1973 Franklinville, New York Panel 44E Line 020 |
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The database page for Albert Eduardo Rodriguez
6 Mar 2004 Al Rodriquez and Jim Badley became great friends while attending Undergraduate Pilot Training together in Phoenix, Arizona. After finishing pilot training at different bases, they were assigned to the same fighter squadron in Vietnam. I believe it was in February of 1968 that Al's daughter was born. A group of pilots went out to celebrate with Al, and Jim later wrote that he had never seen a happier man. A month later, Al was shot down and Jim wrote: "All of South Vietnam is not worth that one little guy's life."
From a friend of a friend. |
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Well, I didn't know Captain Rodriguez nor will I ever get the chance to meet him, but I'm just here to honor his memory and to pay my respects. Dear Captain, I just wanted to first of all congratulate you on becoming a father. I know you must have been very proud of your daughter. Thank you so much for everything you did for this country, your family and the citizens who support you. I writing this because I think from time to time the family of every soldier should know that although I've never met Captain Rodriguez or any Vietnam veteran I still hold every one of them close to my heart.
Jacob E Rodriguez |
A Note from The Virtual WallOn 11 March 1968 a flight of F-4D Phantoms from the 480th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Danang were conducting an armed reconnaissance mission along North Vietnam's main coastal highway, Route 1. About 15 miles south of Mu Ron Ma, the flight located a truck convoy and initiated an attack. One of the aircraft, F-4D tail number 66-7719, was hit by automatic weapons fire and crashed close to the roadway. The crew may have been hit, since there was no apparent attempt to eject before the aircraft impacted. The other aircraft in the flight initiated a SAR effort, but to no avail. Both crewmen - Major Ernest A. Olds and backseater 1st Lt Albert E. Rodriguez - were posted as Missing in Action.Eventually the Secretary of the Air Force approved Presumptive Findings of Death for the two, Rodriguez on 09 Oct 1973 and Olds on 02 May 1978, changing their status to Died while Missing/Body not Recovered. A number of human remains were repatriated on 15 Dec 1988. While the announcement that Captain Rodriguez' remains had been positively identified came within months - on 20 July 1989 - Colonel Olds' remains were not identified until 02 August 1996. |
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The point-of-contact for this memorial is a friend of a friend. ltpaffrath@sbcglobal.net |
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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Memorial first published on 6 Mar 2004
Last updated 05/14/2006