Specialist Andrew Rodriguez
All differences set aside, when it came down to it they always
pulled together as a team. There's a lot of pride in this company.
--Andrew Rodriguez
|
Specialist Andrew Rodriguez while deployed
in Iraq. |
Specialist Andrew Rodriguez of Lincoln
was deployed to Iraq with the 267th
Ordnance Company from February 2004 until February 2005. At Forward
Operating Base Speicher near Tikrit the company provided maintenance,
recovery, repair, and up-armoring of military vehicles. Rodriguez
repaired weapons and also volunteered to serve as a gunner on
missions. He came home two weeks early to assist his wife, Monica,
during the pregnancy of their third child.
Source: All
objects were loaned by Andrew Rodriguez
Oral Interviews with Specialist Andrew Rodriguez
Sergeant First Class Linda Tarango-Griess
and Staff Sergeant Jeremy Fischer
of the 267th Ordnance Company were killed in action on July 11,
2004, by an Improvised Explosive Device.
In the back of your head reality sets
in about what can happen and it's the fear of the unknown and
I think that kind of eats away at you and you try not to let
it and think of the positive things or you just live for the
day.
A picture of Husker Ville and the MWR [Morale,
Welfare and Recreation building] some of our soldiers built and
dedicated to Sergeant Fischer and Sergeant First Class Linda
Ann Tarango-Griess.
Andrew
Rodriquez with his wife, Monica, and their children
We had to change the way we did things
on a daily basis. It was hard at first getting myself adjusted
to doing everything I would do, plus what he would do. --Monica Rodriquez
Oral Interviews with Monica Rodriguez,
Specialist Andrew Rodriguez' wife.
I kind of had an idea of what a mortar is. I think to me everything is so scary, even when
you tell me you hear gunshots . . . just being where you are
is scary but God is so wonderful and has been so wonderful with
us since we met. --Monica
Rodriquez
I
missed you on Halloween night because it is hard
to see my friends with their husbands and kids and find myself
alone. But at the end of that I thought to myself that next year
it will not be the same if God allows. --Monica
Rodriquez
When we first arrived at Camp Speicher
three to four of us had to share a two-man "hooch"
and this was my little corner for a couple of weeks.
A picture of "Husker Ville." The trailers we lived
in were all lined up in rows surrounded by Hesco baskets filled
with sand. Hesco baskets are named that for the company that
makes them. They come in two sizes and we fill them with sand.
The bigger sized ones we put around the entire perimeter of "Husker
Ville," and the smaller ones around the trailers to protect
from enemy mortar shrapnel. The enemy manages to fire small rockets
and mortar rounds at the base and you never know where they're
going to land. The trailers we lived in are shipping containers
with windows, doors, and a/c units installed. Soldiers refer
to them as hooches or connex boxes.
