Rank: Specialist 4
Unit: C Troop, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 11C – Indirect Fire Infantryman
Awards: Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device and Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart Medal Oak Leaf Cluster, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Badges: Combat Infantryman Badge
Unit awards: Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Enlisted by: Regular
Date of birth: 8-Nov-1949
Hometown: Lumberton, North Carolina
Marital status: Never Married
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: 25-Jan-1968
Start of tour: 12-Jul-1968
Incident date: 15-Aug-1969
Date of casualty: 18-Aug-1969
Age at death: 19
Cause of death: Hostile, died of wounds. Grenade. Multiple fragmentation wounds.
John Carl Rodgers died as a result of wounds received while at fire support base when the area came under mortar attack by a hostile force. He was admitted to a military medical facility and later expired. / At fire support base (FSB). Area came under hostile mortar attack. Individual admitted to 2d Surgical Hospital, Lai Khe, on 15 Aug 1969 at 0200 hrs, placed on Serious Injured (SI) list on 15 Aug 1969 at 0800 hrs, taken off SI list and placed on Very Serious Injured (VSI) list on 16 Aug 1969 at 1000 hrs, and later expired. Incident occurred on 15 Aug 1969 at 0130 hrs.
Two Blackhorse troopers died as a result of this incident:
SP4 John Carl Rodgers
SP4 Bruce Allen Ugelstad
Location of fatality: Binh Long, South Vietnam, XU 730 070
Place of interment: Gardens of Faith, Lumberton, North Carolina, USA
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BRONZE STAR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
POSTHUMOUS
SPECIALIST FOUR JOHN CARL RODGERS
13 AUGUST 1969
C TROOP, 1st SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Specialist Four Rodgers distinguished himself by heroism in connection with ground operations against a hostile force on 13 August 1969 while serving as a mortarman with Troop C, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date while in a laager position at Fire Support Base John, the troop came under an enemy mortar attack. Specialist Rodgers quickly organized his mortar squad and began placing counter-fire on the hostile emplacements. On several occasions he was knocked to the ground by impacting mortar rounds and his squad scattered to nearby bunker positions. Nevertheless, he repeatedly regrouped his men and continued to direct accurate fire on the enemy. He remained at his position until the hostile fire had been silenced even though he sustained wounds which later proved to be fatal, Specialist Four Rodger’s courage, determination and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.
Headquarters, II Field Force Vietnam General Orders No. 2624 (4 October 1969)