Meet SgtFC Domingo Rodriguez — 2017 Veteran
Domingo Rodriguez was born in Waco, Texas. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in May of 1986 at the age of nineteen. He attended Basic Training at Fort Dix, New Jersey and continued with AIT there for his MOS of Light Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic. Upon completion of AIT, he continued his training at Fort Benning, Georgia where he received his Parachute Badge in Basic Airborne School.
In January of 1987, he received orders for his permanent duty station with HHC 548th Engineer Battalion at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Shortly after being assigned, the unit deactivated and reactivated as the 37th Engineer Battalion Combat Light Airborne Unit. While stationed at Fort Bragg, Domingo deployed to Honduras in 1989 and received orders allowing him to wear the Honduran Military Airborne Badge. He also deployed to AMEA Saudi Arabia in 1991 for Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, to Haiti for Uphold Democracy in 1994 and to FEPA-Korea in 1997.
Domingo was honorably discharged from the Army in August of 1999. He re-enlisted in the Texas Army National Guard after 911 on his 40th birthday in June of 2006.
Domingo received orders in 2007 to change his MOS to Unit Supply Specialist. In 2008 he deployed with CO B 2-149th Aviation to Iraq during OIF. During their deployment they lost several members of their unit when their Chinook crashed flying from Kuwait to Iraq. He lost seven members of his unit in September. In December he lost his older brother to cancer and in March 2009, his grandmother passed during this deployment. Domingo was promoted during this deployment to Staff Sergeant and when he returned received orders for his new unit in Denton, Texas to the 236th Engineer CO, 111th Engineer Battalion.
Domingo was promoted to Sergeant First Class in 2012 and transferred to his new duty station, HHC 36th Sust. BDE in Temple, Texax. The unit deployed to Kuwait in 2013 for Operation Enduring Freedom. In December of 2013, SFC. Rodriguez received orders for Active duty at Fort Hood, Texas. He continued active duty in Fort Hood until his retirement from the Army on February 28, 2015 after 22 years of service.
Decorations, Medals and Badges earned by Domingo Rodriguez:
- Army Lapel Button
- Meritorious Service Military Medal
- Army Commendation Medal (5th award)
- Army Achievement (9th award)
- Army Good Conduct (5th award)
- National Defense Service Medal (2nd award)
- Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
- South West Asia Service Medal
- Iraq Campaign Medal with 2 campaign stars
- Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
- Humanitarian Service Medal
- Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M service
- Army Service Ribbon
- Overseas Service Ribbon (3rd award)
- Kuwait Liberation Medal
- Parachute Badge
- Honduran Military Airborne Badge
- Hungarian Military Airborne Badge
- Driver and Mechanic Badge with Driver-wheeled vehicle's clasp
- Driver and Mechanic Badge with mechanic clasp
- Expert Marksmanship Badge with rifle, pistol bars
- Army Presidential Unit Citation
- Army Meritorious Unit Commendation
- Philippine Presidential Unit Citation
After he retired, Domingo returned to his civilian job as a Detention Officer. He had only been back to work a couple of weeks and was having a hard time with his co-workers. He would go home angry and agitated. Domingo would call his wife and she would have to talk him down to keep him from losing his temper. He had nightmares all the time and felt his family would be better off without him. The people who were his friends before he re-enlisted hardly spoke to him. Most of the time they acted as if he did not exist. His wife Shannon encouraged him to get help because it was taking a toll on their family. Domingo was anxious, depressed, angry and very jealous for no reason. He sought help with the VA and was diagnosed with PTSD. Since then he has been going to the Steven Cohen Clinic and they have encouraged him to get a service dog.
Before Domingo even knew about the Steven Cohen Clinic, he met Jeff Anderson at the Military Miles 5K event in Irving, Texas. Shannon encouraged Domingo to speak with Jeff about Rebuilding Warriors because, up until now, those who had been helping Domingo were not successful finding a dog for him even though they had tried many different organizations. Domingo's anger and depression was getting worse. Domingo has been working with the Wounded Warrior Project and has met, and is very grateful for, the veterans who have helped him. Shannon believes things happen for a reason and running that 5K in June and meeting Jeff was meant to be and we cannot thank Jeff and everyone enough who work to provide these amazing service dogs to veterans.
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Jeff Anderson
CEO/Founder, Rebuilding Warriors
