Baltimore native dies in Afghanistan

BALTIMORE - Baltimore born Sgt. Daniel A. Rodriguez has died serving in the U.S. Army as part of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

Sgt. Rodriguez, 28 and Sgt. Jose Reyes, 24, of Puerto Rico were killed on July 18 in Ghazni City, Afghanistan, when their vehicle was hit by an enemy improvised explosive device.

The soldiers were assigned to the 548th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.

Rodriguez is survived by his wife, three children and mother.

Rodriguez joined the Army in July 2002. After his training he was assigned to Fort Richardson, Alaska and Fort Hood, Texas. He arrived at Fort Drum in March 2010.

Rodriguez deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from October 2003 to October 2004, and deployed again from November 2005 to November 2006 and June 2008 to June 2009.  He deployed with his unit in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in April 2012.

Rodriguez's awards and decorations include two Purple Hearts, the Army Commendation Medal, three Army Achievement Medals, a Meritorious Unit Commendation, three Army Good Conduct Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Non Commissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Combat Action Badge, the Driver and Mechanic Badge and the Basic Marksman Qualification Badge. He also completed the Air Load Planner course, the Combatives Level 1 course, Master Driver Training course, the Warrior Leadership course and the Combat Lifesavers course.