Clifford Rodney Rodriguez
Master Sergeant, U.S. Army

In September 1950, Master Sergeant Clifford Rodney Rodriguez was serving with Company L, 3rd Battalion, 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team, 11th Airborne Division, in Korea.

On 27 September, MSG Rodriguez's unit was engaged with enemy forces in the vicinity of Yangnung-ni, South Korea. MSG Rodriguez was in a motor convoy enroute to take combat positions when the convoy was ambushed. The vehicle in which he was riding was the first vehicle to be hit. Taking immediate action, MSG Rodriguez got all but the critically wounded off the truck and deployed them to engage the enemy. This action destroyed several enemy automatic weapons. He then moved the personnel with him to the high ground on the left to secure the left flank of Company L. While doing this, he was severely wounded in the shoulder, leg, and foot, which rendered him immobile except for crawling. But this did not stop him; he continued deploying his troops, directing their fire and participated in the fire-fight. When the detachment was ordered to withdraw, MSG Rodriguez covered the withdrawal with his own fire and then crawled to a covered position where he could be assisted without exposing anyone else to enemy fire. He declined all personal medical attention until all wounded members of his platoon had been treated. His inspiring leadership encouraged other members of the platoon to defeat the enemy attack and prevent the left flank from being overrun. MSG Rodriguez's courageous actions earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Army Good Conduct Medal
American Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
Army of Occupation Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Korean Service Medal with 2 Bronze Stars
United Nations Service Medal
Republic of Korea War Service Medal
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Combat Infantryman Badge
Parachutist Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Master Sergeant Clifford R. Rodriguez (ASN: RA-6562803), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Company L, 3d Battalion, 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team, 11th Airborne Division. Master Sergeant Rodriguez distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Yangnung-ni, Korea, on 27 September 1950. On that date, Master Sergeant Rodriguez was in a motor convoy en route to take combat positions when the convoy was ambushed. The vehicle in which Sergeant Rodriguez was riding was the first vehicle to be hit. Taking immediate action, Sergeant Rodriguez got all but the critically wounded off the truck and deployed them to engage the enemy. His action destroyed several enemy automatic weapons. He then moved the personnel with him to the high ground on the left to secure the left flank of his company. In doing this, he was severely wounded in the shoulder, leg, and foot. These wounds rendered him immobile except for crawling. Notwithstanding, he continued deployment his troops, directing fire and participated in the fire-fight. When the detachment was ordered to withdraw, Sergeant Rodriguez covered the withdrawal with his own fire and then crawled to a covered position where he might be assisted without exposing anyone else to enemy fire. Medical attention was declined until all wounded members of his platoon had been treated. His inspiring leadership encouraged other members of the platoon to beat off the enemy attack and thereby prevented the left flank from being overrun.

General Orders: Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 207 (December 22, 1950)

Burial

Master Sergeant Clifford Rodney Rodriguez is buried at the Fort Bragg Main Post Cemetery in Fort Bragg, Cumberland County, NC, in Plot: Row 7: II-207.

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