Marine Gladiator returns unscathed from Iraq

POLSON - Sergeant Eligio Rodriguez, a Polson High School graduate, just returned from Iraq unscathed in spite of the three months of intense danger he faced on a daily basis. A member of the 11th Battalion, Charlie Battery Unit, Rodriguez, was part of the Combined Anti-Armor Team (CAAT) that is specifically a battalion landing team's primary defense against an armored enemy's attack; the Marines called them the Gladiators.

The CAAT platoon is comprised of more than 40 combat trained, infantry Marines who ride in 14-ft. long, high mobility, multi-purpose wheeled vehicles (Hummers) equipped with either a M2 .50 caliber machine gun or a MK-19 automatic grenade launcher. There are eight Marines in a team, spread across two Hummers, and all are armed with either an M-16A2 service rifle or M-9 9 mm service pistol. They also have AT-4 rockets (shoulder-fired, anti-armor weapons) and various other illumination and signaling pyrotechnics at their disposal.

Rodriguez worked as one of the few radio operators assigned to the unit. In his three months of active duty he served in Iraq, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates.

"With my military occupational specialty (MOS) I can go anywhere in the Marine Corps, said Rodriguez. "Before the war in Iraq, I had completed my active duty, but I extended my contract for six months so I could go over there. As a radio operator in the weapons company I used the Vehicle Radio C88 which is in the CAAT vehicle."

During his stay in Iraq, Rodriguez' was one among many platoons who scoured villages and other areas of Iraq for weapons.

"Families in Iraq could have one weapon per household for hunting," said Rodriguez. "Other unauthorized weapons were confiscated but we didn't have much trouble with that; in the villages, there is mainly poverty. The people who were under Saddam Hussein's regime and had businesses or made money under his rule, hated us. They were the dangerous ones. The people in the villages were those who were ignorant of any politics. They were usually happy to see us because we'd give them food and water. Starving women and children, the elderly would literally crowd us and we spent a lot of time distributing food and supplies to these people. This was the saddest and hardest part of my duty."

During Rodriguez stay of duty he traveled to the UAE on the USS Peleliu where he experienced a sense of pride and accomplishment.

"What really boosted morale for all soldiers serving was when the USS Peleliu captured a ship filled with hashish and another ship of oil smugglers," said Rodriguez. "The terrorists were smuggling hashish and oil to finance their mission, so when we captured them we felt we were really fighting the war against terrorism rather than a war against innocent people who really had no idea what was going on."

Rodriguez completed his tour of duty and is now out of the military. He plans to go back to California to complete his education and then come back to Polson.

"I'm really not sure what I'm going to be doing in the future," said Rodriguez. I'm going to finish up my studies, and stay with family in California, but I feel I'll end up back in Polson, which is my home. The war is something I'll just work to put behind me. I'm glad and proud to have served and happy I was able to contribute in some small way this service to my country."