A different messenger of death cut the military career of Robert Rodriguez short.

Robert Rodriguez was born on April 16, 1931, in Watsonville, California, to Mr. and Mrs. David Rodriguez. Robert was raised in a large household, which included his brothers Edward, David, Richard, Daniel, Gilbert and Tone, along with sisters Angela, Helen, Amelia, Aurora and Patricia. He attended local schools in the Pajaro Valley before entering the US Air Force during the Korean War. While serving in the Air Force, he married Maria. During their marriage, a daughter Terry and son Manuel were born to the couple.

During his seventeen years in military service, the family lived at a number of Air Force facilities, but intended to retire in Watsonville. Early in 1968 Rodriguez was diagnosed as having leukemia, which moved up the Rodriquez family retirement plans. Maria and the children settled into a home on Amesti Road in Watsonville and Robert began treatment at Letterman Hospital in San Francisco.

On July 5, 1968 Sergeant Robert Rodriguez lost his fight and succumbed to cancer. He was returned home and buried in the Watsonville Catholic cemetery.

(CBR; WRP July 6, 1968 2:3)