Rodriguez, Antonio Rey

Sergeant First Class Antonio Rey Rodriguez was a U.S. Army Special Forces soldier assigned to Company A, 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne). The unit was based at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. Rodriguez was from Las Cruces, New Mexico, and was 28 years old at the time of his deployment to Afghanistan.

On February 8, 2020, Rodriguez was participating in a combat operation in the Sherzad District of Afghanistan's eastern Nangarhar Province. According to a U.S. Department of Defense release, he was engaged in a firefight with enemy forces when he was struck by small arms fire. He died from the wounds sustained in that engagement.

Rodriguez's death occurred during Operation Freedom's Sentinel, the U.S. military mission in Afghanistan that succeeded the larger Operation Enduring Freedom. The mission, which began in January 2015, focused on counterterrorism and advising Afghan security forces. Nangarhar Province was a known stronghold for Islamic State-Khorasan (ISIS-K) militants, and U.S. and Afghan forces conducted frequent operations in the region.

Following his death, the U.S. Army released a statement confirming the incident. His body was returned to the United States. A memorial service was held at Eglin Air Force Base, and he was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, and Meritorious Service Medal.

Rodriguez was remembered by his unit as a dedicated and professional soldier. His name is inscribed on the Special Forces Memorial Wall at the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Antonio Rey Rodriguez was killed during Operation Freedom's Sentinel (ongoing since January 2015). See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.

Among those documented in the same conflict: Sanchez, Maria Victoria, Dawson, John Michael, Ruiz, Pablo Allende Iii, Mckenna, Peter Andrew Jr.

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