Citation

Sirak M, Schanz M. Air Force Mag. 2008; 91(11): 16-26.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, United States Air Force Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Major Rodolfo I. Rodriguez, 34, of El Paso died September 20, 2009, in Islamabad, Pakistan, of wounds suffered from an improvised explosive device detonated during a suicide attack on a hotel. Rodriguez was assigned to the 86th Construction and Training Squadron at Ramstein AB, Germany. SMSgt. David Smith, a contracting specialist at Tyndall AFB, received a Bronze Star Medal on Sept. 18 for his actions while deployed to Iraq. During his tour, he often faced hostile fire as he traveled throughout Iraq to support 12 different forward operating bases. Thousands of active duty, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve Command airmen took part in relief missions in late August and September to help residents of the Gulf Coast prepare for the onslaughts of Hurricanes Gustav on September 1 and Ike on September 13 and then deal with their aftermaths. The Tennessee Air National Guard's 164th Airlift Wing opened its new $245 million facility at the southeast corner of Memphis Airport September 6, 2009.

Language: en

Keywords

Suicide attacks; Military aviation; Improvised explosive devices; Air force; Air National Guard; Gulf coast; Islamabad , Pakistan; Memphis; Relief missions