ONTARIO COUNTY, N.Y. -- A local soldier killed in Afghanistan will be laid to rest this week. Sgt. Nelson Rodriguez was among three soldiers from the U.S. Army National Guard in Geneva who died June 21 when the vehicle he was riding in came under attack. Sgt. Andrew Seabrooks and Spc. Anthony Mangano also died in the attack.
The flag outside the Ontario County armory now flies at half-staff. Calling hours for Rodriguez are Friday in his home state of Massachusetts. His burial is scheduled for Saturday.
Before Rodriguez went off to war, he started a family and made his home in Rochester.
"A soldier never dies. He just joins God's army," said Rodriguez's widow, Moriama Morales. "If he had the last dollar in his pocket, the last shirt off his back, it would go to the person who needed it the most."
Rodriguez was known as "Bebo" to others. His wife says he loved to help others.
A Rochester soldier killed in Afghanistan will be laid to rest in Western New York this weekend. Sergeant Nelson Rodriguez was one of three soldiers killed in an attack Saturday. All three were members of the Army National Guard Unit out of Geneva. As our Casey Bortnick tells us, Sergeant Rodriguez's family says he lived to help others.
Morales moved back to the Rochester area after a car accident put her college career on hold.
"He actually rescued me," replied Morales. "If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be as happy as I am today. I was in bad terms with a lot of things."
In April of 2007, Morales met Rodriguez over the Internet. Eight months later the couple was married.
"You know when you really love somebody," sighed Morales. "Or when the right person comes along. So we just knew."
Rodriguez was sent to Afghanistan soon after. The newlyweds spoke on the phone nearly every day, but last Saturday, Moriamo Morales got the call every military wife fears.
"I received a call that he had been killed in battle," said Morales.
Nelson was killed by a roadside bomb.
"My husband sacrificed his life for not just me or the people he knew or he loved, but for everyone else for this country," Morales said.
Rodriguez would have turned 23 in August, a birthday he was looking forward to spending with his wife and new baby. Rodriguez was just getting to know five-month-old Kiara. Now it's Morales' duty to make sure this bright-eyed little girl knows him.
Morales plans to honor Rodriguez by going back to school.
"Even though he's not here physically, he's mentally and emotionally with me," said Morales. "Anything that I know he wanted, I will do for him."
Their time together was short, but Morales said she's proud to say she would do it all over again.
"I'm grateful for it and I wouldn't change anything for the world," Morales said.
Sgt. Nelson Rodriguez also leaves behind another daughter, four-year-old Ariana from a previous relationship. His widow says he loved both of his children very much.