Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans
5:08 | Josh Rodriguez was strongly influenced by his grandfather, who joined the Army in poverty and retired as a Sgt. Major. Inspired by this, he, too, decided on an Army career and not in a small way. He applied to West Point.
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It was armor training at Fort Knox and new lieutenant Josh Rodriguez was on the lighter vehicle reconnaissance track. A year after he graduated from West Point, he deployed to Afghanistan. As he traveled to his remote forward operating base, he was struck by the natural beauty of the place.
The first helicopter ride he had in Afghanistan was the scariest. What was going to happen when they landed? Lt Josh Rodriguez was part of an advance team tasked with scouting and then planning his brigade's deployment. Immediately, they were dealing with mortar attacks and firefights.
The first firefight was the most memorable. Platoon leader Josh Rodriguez was asleep, dreaming of popcorn. It wasn't popcorn that woke him, though, it was bullets coming through the thin walls. As he scrambled for his equipment, he made an embarrassing discovery that would soon have him running like a movie star with bullets hitting around his feet.
His memories from Afghanistan that stand out are either funny or learning experiences. Josh Rodriguez had just pulled up to a security assignment when an explosion rocked the ground. That attack was short lived but suddenly two SUV's raced at high speed right through their position. The chase was on!
The fighting was getting intense in his area and it was really evident when Josh Rodriguez responded to a Taliban attack on a small convoy of American contractors and Afghan workers. If only they'd asked for an escort.
There was no surge yet in the area where platoon leader Josh Rodriguez was operating. You had all the personnel you were going to get. In an attempt to clear and secure a road connecting bases, he and his men were posted on a high point where they could overwatch the road below. The only problem was that now the Taliban had something to distract them from the road. Part 1 of 9.
His platoon was exhausted, up for 24 hours on an overwatch mission. Platoon leader Josh Rodriguez had just got them settled when his commander radioed that they had to move out immediately. Mindful of the danger at night on mountain roads, he asked to wait until dawn. Part 2 of 9.
Platoon leader Josh Rodriguez had just told his commander that his exhausted men were not going to move out as ordered. He didn't have much time to question that decision because the radio came to life with the news that OP Bari Alai, near where he declined to go, was under attack with just a handful of defenders. Part 3 of 9.
Josh Rodriguez had just rushed his men to the base of a mountain where OP Bari Alai was under furious attack at the top. Helicopter pilots reported that at least one of the defenders looked to be alive, so there was hope. He and his platoon were under fire as they climbed the steep path to the top where they found total devastation. Part 4 of 9.
Josh Rodriguez and his men were running on adrenaline and guilt. The platoon had been ordered into the area hours ago but were too late. It's unsure if an earlier arrival would have helped at OP Bari Alai which was devastated by a Taliban attack. They began a sweep of the nearby area searching for a missing American. Part 5 of 9.
In the aftermath of the deadly attack on OP Bari Alai, Josh Rodriguez and his men were sent to man another lofty observation post to overwatch construction at the base below. The defensive walls were totally inadequate but they dug in the best they could. It didn't take long. That night, the Taliban stormed the post, determined to kill all inside. Part 6 of 9.
As the Taliban swarmed his position, Josh Rodriguez called for final protective fire, your own artillery right on the perimeter of your position. When the machine gun went down, he gave his rifle to the gunner and continued tossing grenades. He didn't know who was going to win this fight but, thankfully, it started to ease off. Then a helicopter pilot reported that the enemy was massing behind a ridge. Part 7 of 9.
The pilot said he could take out the attackers but the blast would be in the danger close zone, almost right on top of the position where Josh Rodriguez and a handful of men were nearly overrun by the Taliban. Drop it, he said. Everyone hit the deck. Part 8 of 9.
The fight was over. Miraculously, no one had been killed in the nearly overwhelming Taliban attack. Josh Rodriguez had given the command for a close air strike that wiped out the attackers. For that and other actions, he would be awarded the Bronze Star, but not without some controversy. Part 9 of 9.
He had a greater appreciation for life when he returned from his first tour of Afghanistan. But Josh Rodriguez had to readjust to family and finances and continue with his career. He wanted more than anything to get back into combat as a company commander.
Josh Rodriguez knew he had to get a Ranger tab to continue on the path he wanted. He got in as a walk on and made it through Ranger School, but he didn't get the assignment he wanted. Then, he heard about a position as an aide de camp to a general officer.
Between his Afghanistan tours, Josh Rodriguez was lucky to be mentored by his commander at the Recruiting Command. He learned to work a room and how to network, valuable skills for an Army officer. After that assignment and after the Captains Career Course, he readied to return overseas.
He didn't get the combat command he wanted but Josh Rodriguez set about his duties as a logistician when he got to Afghanistan for his second tour. As soon as he arrived, it was announced that most of the bases in his area of operations would be closed. There was no plan and he had to figure it out fast.
Was it worth it? Josh Rodriguez says yes. We gave Afghanistan a taste of what is possible and he has hope that the newer generations will be a catalyst for change. What was a shame is how hard earned lessons were quickly forgotten on the battlefield.
