Major Rodolfo Rodriguez was taken from us September 20th, 2008 while deployed to Pakistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, he was 34.

Major Rodriguez is remembered as an officer who led by example. He was in Pakistan serving on his third deployment as a civil engineering officer, training the Pakistani military.

Maj Rodriguez was proud of going from a child who learned English as his second language to being commissioned an Air Force officer. The wide range of experiences meant he could relate to airmen of any rank.

“He would have wanted to be remembered as someone who had a personal honor code, somebody who just did their duty quietly and never asked for anything else,” Caryn Rodriguez said.

Maj Rodriguez was just 18 when his father was killed in a car accident. It was this tragedy that allowed him to step up and care for his mother and two brothers.” He was 12 years older than I was, but he always made sure my mom and my brother and I were OK,” Edgar Rivas said. “When school would come around, he would buy us new uniforms and supplies.”

“Rodriguez died where he wanted to be, making his difference,” said Cousin Armando Juarez. “(He was) very smart, very generous, loving, caring. You name it; he was everything.”

$10 from each bracelet sold will be donated to a charity chosen by Maj Rodriguez’ family.

Here’s a toast.