Gregory Allen Rodriguez was born on October 14, 1972, in Weidman, Isabella County, Michigan. He was the son of Virginia Richardson. He was married to Laura Rodriguez. He graduated from Mount Pleasant High School in 1991. During his military career, he served at duty stations in Hawaii, Missouri, Alaska, and Texas before being assigned to the K-9 unit of the 527th Military Police Company, 709th Military Police Battalion, 18th Military Police Brigade, based in Ansbach, Germany. He was later deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

SFC Rodriguez served as a military working dog handler and was partnered with his K-9, Jacko, who became his trusted companion during the final years of his military service. He died of wounds sustained on September 2, 2008, in Ana Kalay after his mounted patrol came under enemy small-arms fire. Early reports indicated that he acted heroically during the engagement, reportedly shielding a fellow soldier from enemy fire by taking a bullet intended for him. His military working dog, Jacko, survived the attack. He is now buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, thefallen.militarytimes.com