After 14 years as a civilian, Army veteran, 55, is heading to Iraq

[babylonsister]

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/328397,CST-NWS-soldier05.article

After 14 years as a civilian, Army veteran, 55, is heading to Iraq

April 5, 2007
BY ANDREW HERRMANN [e-mail]

At 55, an age when some men begin mulling retirement, Rick Rodrigues is marching in a different direction: He's joining the Army. Make that re-joining.

A West Point graduate, Rodrigues retired from the Army as a lieutenant colonel in 1993 after 20 years in fatigues, trading in his camouflage for a banker's suit and tie. Now, after 14 years of civilian life, he was invited by the Army to return to duty for a one-year stint in Iraq.

After consulting with his wife, Lisa, and two grown daughters, Rodrigues agreed to re-up -- and has been working with a trainer at the Five Seasons Sports Club in Burr Ridge to help him get ready.

"When something very important to you -- and the U.S. Army was always very important to me -- indicates a need, it's difficult to say no,'' said Rodrigues. "The Army did so much for me: It provided me with my education, it provided me with my first career, and it basically formed who I am as an adult.''

Rodrigues spent his Army life in the infantry but never saw combat. That, too, played a role in his decision to re-enlist.

"I had to basically show that, in my own eyes, I was not a fair-weather warrior. It was easy to wear the uniform when nothing was going on. But now that something's going on, it requires a little bit of sacrifice,'' he said.

Later this month, Rodrigues will leave for Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri for "re-greening'' -- a kind of two-week refresher course in Army life that includes a physical and weapons training. Then, the grandfather of one heads off to Iraq.

Has his wife's support
Rodrigues won't be in front-line combat -- he'll work indoors in command operations doing what he called "higher-level staff work.'' Regardless, Iraq is a dangerous place, a fact fully understood by his wife.

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[BOSSHOG]

1. I salute the LCOL and wish him well

I'm a little leary of his thinking he won't be in harm's way but be a higher level staff worker.

[Wickerman]

4. "I had to basically show that, in my own eyes, I was not a fair-weather warrior."

I see a disconnect in his logic, but I salute his putting his money where his mouth is and wish him well.

[BOSSHOG]

6. Me too after further reflection

It seems he wants to be a badass warrior to validate his career (which doesn't need validation) but he's real happy to have a cushy desk job in Iraq (which doesn't exist.)

I could make some salty smartass Navy comment about the logic of Soldiers but I won't. I wish him and all the rest of them well. In fact, being the unpatriotic cowardly veteran that I am I wish they all come home real soon.

[Wickerman]

9. Amen, BossHog, Amen

This vet wishes the same, too. I don't want to see any more reports of young kids dying for no reason.

And yeah, as an Airman who spent many years with them, I never understood the ground pounders. Respected, yes, understood, no.

[BOSSHOG]

10. I was deployed with the Air Force

on a joint venture in Saudi in the 90's. It was a great atmosphere to hone your best service rivalry putdowns and jokes. But we were all teammates! I loved answering the phone as "Chief" when there was Air Force Personnel on the other end of the line.

[rasputin1952]

17. I have great respect for those who serve, as a Vet myself, I can get

into thinking that I would like to go back to some of those years. No way I'd pass a physical though, besides that, as an NCO, I wouldn't get the same treatment this guy is getting.

He spent 20 years an an Infantry officer, made it to LTC, Bn Cdr, not bad at all. But there is something about the Infantry that drives people to keep pounding it out...most would want the CIB more than anything, and I'm sure this is one of his "reasons" for going back in. He has to have some friends in high places, and while he says he'll be working out of an office, I find that hard to believe...he'll want to get into a scrap, although I wonder why he waited 4 years into this war to make the decision, and where was he for GW I?

In any case, I can't fault him for his decision, although I figure if he tries to pull a "John Wayne" and run around the countryside as a LTC/COL like in "The Green Berets", he'll wish he'd stayed at the bank...:)

[angstlessk]

2. So the muther never got to shoot anyone...well hip hip horray!

Iraq is dangerous...for Iraqi's...and those who have to make it dangerous for Iraqi's...he just wants an opportunity to shoot someone...leagally...what a dumb fuck!

[ComerPerro]

14. and lucky for him, he won't have to.

[The_Casual_Observer]

3. He's going to Iraq to protect the homeland from all those

Iraqis in Iraq. God Bless America.

[TahitiNut]

5. Poor guy. Graduated from West Point in '73 ... too late to 'enjoy' Southeast Asia.

:eyes: All that training ... and no notches.

[BOSSHOG]

7. I wonder how (if) his retirement will be recalculated?

If he gets promoted to Colonel will he then retire with 20+ years longevity based on the pay scale when he reretires? If he lives through this gig that would be a pretty sweet deal for him.

[hootinholler]

12. I would expect it to be based on the highest active rank awarded

(Not Franked) Then whatever weird reserve time thingy that yoemen only know how to do.

-Hoot

[TahitiNut]

15. I gotta believe that's the part of the story where most of the motive lies.

I'd also be willing to bet he did some dealing - he's got friends in the active military at flag rank.

[rasputin1952]

18. I agree...he's definitely got friends in high places...

some of those went on to get stars...Officers tend to stay in touch w/each other.

I think his motive is to get the CIB, something he figures he should have gotten if given the chance. I have no doubt that in his mind that he's kind of figuring on taking on insurgents somewhere down the line...30 days in a Combat Zone, get the CIB, he'll still be eligible from LTC on down.

In any case, I'm sure that as a banker, his finances are in order, and he'll probably get to Bird Col if he has the right people he can stay in touch w/and that is considered Gen Officer these days. Up goes the retirement 50% of a COL's pay, plus what he makes as a banker...No wonder his wife is behind him...(besides, gets him out of the house for a while...:D )

:patriot:

[Vinca]

8. It's truly pathetic when they start calling up the 55 year olds.

How about a draft in Iraq to sign up some of the young guys you always see on the news hanging out, drinking coffee and playing board games? I realize we broke it, we own it, but enough already. We should not be reaching back through the time machine for people who have been out of the military 14 years.

[babylonsister]

11. He wasn't 'called up', he joined voluntarily. nt

[Vinca]

13. They shouldn't be taking him. If the military is so darn broken

they're willing to bring in Grandma and Grampa, something is seriously wrong. Sign up the 18 year old Iraqis instead.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

16. He's only 55 ... and we are signing up young iraqis.

He may not have a walker and dentures yet. If he can pass the physical, why not? It's not like he'll be humping mortar rounds cross-country, he'll be in an office.

The young Iraquis? We're signing them up, training them, arming them. When we leave, they'll be effective fighters for their sect, tribe, or warlord.