Army Pfc. Arturo E. Rodriguez

Died March 16, 2011 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

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19, of Bellflower, Calif.; assigned to 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.; died March 12 in the Giyan district of Paktika province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using small-arms fire.

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Fort Campbell: Small-arms fire killed 101st soldier

The (Clarksville, Tenn.) Leaf-Chronicle

Small-arms fire killed a 101st Airborne soldier on dismounted patrol March 12 in the Giyan district of Paktika province, Afghanistan, according to a Fort Campbell news release.

Pfc. Arturo Emmanuel Rodriguez, 19, of Bellflower, Calif., was an infantryman assigned to Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division. He joined the Army in February 2010 and arrived at Fort Campbell in July 2010.

His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal, Parachutist Badge and Combat Infantryman Badge.

Rodriguez is survived by his father, Arturo Rodriguez Segura, and mother, Rosa Jimenez Davila, both of Mexico. He is also survived by his aunt, Maria Lopez of Bellflower, Calif.

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Family remembers fallen soldier as disciplined, obedient

The Associated Press

To family, Arturo Rodriguez was an “angel,” his aunt said.

The 19-year-old from Bellflower, Calif., liked to run and lift weights, and grew up knowing he wanted to join the U.S. Army, his aunt Maria Melendrez told the Guadalajara Reporter in Mexico.

“He was very disciplined and obedient,” Melendrez said.

He died in Paktika province on March 12, having been wounded in an attack on his unit. He was assigned to Fort Campbell.

His death came a week before his family expected him to return from Afghanistan, his aunt said.

The Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Army Achievement Medal are included on a long list of his military honors.

He is survived by his father, Arturo Rodriguez Segura, and mother, Rosa Jimenez Davila, both of Mexico; and aunt, Maria Lopez of Bellflower.

A funeral was held for the soldier in Tonala, Mexico, last month.