Rodgers, Joshua

   Hometown:        Carson City, NV

   Age:                      29

   Rank:                   Chief Warrant Officer Two: United States Army - 3^rd Battalion, 82^nd General

                                 Support Aviation, 82^nd Airborne Division               

   Cause:                 Died in Afghanistan on May 30, 2007, from wounds suffered in combat  

Chief Warrant Officer, Joshua B. Rodgers, 29, of Carson City, Nevada, died on May 30, 2007, when his helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan.  His father and stepmother, Dan and Wanda Rodgers, are residents of Jonesboro, Arkansas. Rodgers was a member of the 3rd General Support Aviation Battalion, 82nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division stationed in Fort Bragg, North Carolina.  Rodgers joined the Army in 2000 and the 82nd Airborne in February 2007.  

The incident occurred in the Helmand Province in southern Afghanistan during a major joint offensive against Taliban forces by NATO and Afghan troops.  It claimed six additional soldiers, four stationed at Fort Bragg, one soldier from England, and one soldier from Canada.  It is believed to be the largest fatality involving soldiers from the 82nd Airborne since Vietnam. 

Although Rodgers grew up in Nevada, he often spent summers in Jonesboro with his father.  Dan noted that he often called from Afghanistan, but the conversations were short.  He said that his son “was a daddy’s boy.  He loved to hunt.  He was real outgoing and was real good with kids.  He did believe in what he was doing and had 100 percent faith in our government.” 

Rodgers is survived by his wife, Casey; three daughters, Madison, Autumn, and Ashlyn; mother and stepfather, Debbie and Ben Walker of Carson City; father and stepmother, Dan and Wanda; brothers Matthew and Jordan Rodgers, and sister, Sara, all of Jonesboro. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and other medals in service to his country.