John Rodriguez, Jr. was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on September 11, 1942, to Juan Rodriguez Lugo and Esther Lopez Rodriguez. He passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by family, on December 27, 2021. On January 3, 2021, he was laid to rest next to his mother Esther in Forest Lawn Cemetery.

Although a native Puerto Rican, John grew up inCuba,NewJersey,andNew York,each being areas where his father was stationed. He attended James Madison High School in Brooklyn but graduated from Mineral Wells High School after his fathertransferred. After graduation, Johnstudiedcartography atTexas Christian University (TCU)and was a member of the track team. His fascination withmaps and navigationledhimtojointhe Marine Corps in 1963 and his passion for flight. John married Suzy, the love of his life, in 1965, butsadly,the couple divorced in 1976. Months after John and Suzy were married, heservedin Vietnamasacrew chief for Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 164 (HMM-164)aboarda CH-46 Sea Knight nicknamed "How Sweet it is." The highlight of his tour was hearing the news of the birth of his first child. Other highs include a commendation from Boeing for saving the lives of two engineers and being entrusted with the safe transport of Bob Hope and the other celebrities traveling together to perform for troops in the area. He never spoke about the lows he experienced in Vietnam, only the brotherhood of his squadron and the privilege he felt it was to serve as United States Marine.

John was a devoted father of three who raised his family in Orange County, California, and Houston, Texas, where he lived until his passing. Interestingly, he never acquired a Texas drawl and retained the New York accent from his childhood regardless of whether he spoke English or the Spanish he modified and renamed "Puerto Rican Spanglish."

Throughout his life, John was guided by his Christian faith. He was a devout member of the Sagemont Church for over thirty years and was honored to serve on Sagemont's Emergency Response Team. In the chaos of war, Marines are taught to overcome any obstacle. "Improve, Adapt, and Overcome" is the Marine motto, a mindset that empowers Marines to cope with physical, mental, or spiritual obstacles. Though he endured physical hardship in the months before he passed, John's faith remained unwavering. In the end, John was able to say, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:7)

It has been said thatJohn wasone ofthe beststorytellersyou would ever meet,and he wouldoftenuseboth hands to make sure you understoodtheimportanceofeachcrucialevent. Thankfully,histhreechildren have inherited this trait. His quick wit and laughter were unforgettable, but in the end, his smile is what melted the hearts of all of those who cared for him during his final days.

John was preceded in death by his parents, both in 2005, and his beloved fiancé, Patty, in 2013. He is survived by his stepmother Luz and his siblings, Maria, Melissa, Eusebio, and Josue; his children, Tammie, Bonnie (Ryan), and Christopher (Jessica); his grandchildren, Kenion, Cade, Ariana, Sean, Jonah, and Leia; the surviving members of HMM-164; and his Bella Vita family.

The Rodriguez family is extremely grateful to those whose loving care made John's final weeks so comfortable. Thank you to Dr. Maneesh Patel and his staff, Stephanie and Tina from Heart to Heart Hospice, and John's special friend, Kathleen, and her son Andrew.

Mission complete, Daddy. Oorah!