Rodriguez, Mario Jr
Male
Verified Sgt. Mario Rodriguez Jr., 24, of Smithville, Texas, served with the 264th Clearance Company, 27th Engineer Battalion, based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He died on June 11, 2010, in Powrak, Logar Province, Afghanistan.
Their Story
Sgt. Mario Rodriguez Jr. was a combat engineer assigned to the 264th Clearance Company, part of the 27th Engineer Battalion from Fort Bragg, North Carolina. His unit specialized in route clearance, a dangerous task involving the detection and disposal of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) along Afghanistan's roadways. This mission was critical during the 2010 troop surge of Operation Enduring Freedom, which aimed to disrupt Taliban influence in provinces like Logar, south of Kabul.
On June 11, 2010, Rodriguez was operating in the village of Powrak in Logar Province. According to U.S. Department of Defense records, his unit was engaged in a hostile incident there that day. The specific circumstances of the engagement were not detailed in the initial casualty release, which is standard for operational security during active conflicts.
Rodriguez's death was recorded in the Defense Casualty Analysis System on the day it occurred. He was 24 years old. His home of record was listed as Smithville, a small community east of Austin, Texas.
His passing came during a period of intense fighting following the U.S. troop surge. The Taliban had intensified its use of IEDs and ambushes against coalition forces, making route clearance one of the most hazardous duties in the conflict. The 27th Engineer Battalion sustained multiple casualties during its deployment.
Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led combat mission in Afghanistan, formally concluded in December 2014. The conflict, which began in October 2001, resulted in the deaths of over 2,400 American service members. Rodriguez is one of more than 1,800 U.S. troops who died in Afghanistan during the 2009-2012 surge period.
Explore Further
Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led combat mission in Afghanistan, concluded in December 2014. See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.
Among those documented in the same conflict: Andrews, Evander Earl, Edmunds, Jonn Joseph, Stonesifer, Kristofor Tif, Davis, Bryant Leroy.
