SAN ANTONIO, TX, USA
U.S. Army
SGT, COMPANY A 5TH BN 158TH AVIATION REGIMENT APO AE 09182
CAMP UDAIRI, KUWAIT 02/25/2003
Specialist Rodrigo Gonzales-Garza was born in Sabinas Hidalgo, Nuevo Leon, Mexico and was brought to San Antonio, Texas by his parents as an infant. Known as “Gonzo” to his friends, he was popular, funny and well-liked. He was also a talkative joker who had lots of energy.
Rodrigo joined the Army in 1997, starting out as an airborne infantryman and later reclassified. He was the Crew chief for V Corps deputy commanding general. His deployments included Victory Strike III, Poland and Enduring Freedom, Kuwait.
On February 25, 2003 he died as the crew chief on the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter when it crashed in the desert while night training during a sand storm. The pilot, CWO Timothy Moehling and Gonzalez-Garza loved flying together. He was to be switched to another flight that fateful night but he insisted on sticking with his pilot.
Rodrigo died defending the United States while pursuing his dream of becoming a citizen of this country. His story inspired a book entitled “No Greater Love: The Lives and Times of Hispanic Soldiers” written by U.S. Army Major General Alfredo Valenzuela.