Sergeant Rodrigues was a veteran of World War II. In Korea, he was a member of Company D, 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regimental Combat Team. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy near Chindong-ni, South Korea, on 29 August 1950.

For his leadership and valor, Sergeant Rodrigues was awarded the Silver Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, the Republic of Korea War Service Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.