Sgt. Joshua P. Rodgers, 22, was killed on April 27, 2017 while conducting combat operations in Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan.

Sgt. Rodgers was a Ranger Team Leader assigned to Company C, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Benning, Ga. He was on his third deployment to Afghanistan.

He was born August 22nd, 1994 in Normal, Illinois. After graduating from high school in 2013, he enlisted in the US Army. He completed One Station Unit Training at Fort Benning, Ga., as an Infantryman. After graduating from the Basic Airborne Course, he was assigned to the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program 1, also at Fort Benning.

Following graduation from the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program 1, Sgt. Rodgers was then assigned to Company C, 3rd Bn., 75th Ranger Regiment in May 2014 where he served as a Machine Gunner, Semi-Automatic Gunner, Gun Team Leader and Ranger Team Leader.

His military education includes the Basic Airborne Course, the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program 1, the U.S. Army Ranger Course, and the Basic Leader Course. His awards and decorations include the Ranger Tab, the Parachutist Badge, the Marksmanship Qualification Badge Expert-Rifle and the Combat Infantry Badge. 

Sgt. Rodgers has also been awarded the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal, the Purple Heart, and the Bronze Star with Valor. 

Sgt. Rodgers is survived by his loving parents, Vonda and Kevin, his sisters Emily and Hannah, his brother Ashton, and his niece Victoria. 

Army Ranger Lead The Way Fund honored his family at our annual Gold Star Memorial Event by presenting a hand painted portrait of Joshua commissioned by the American Fallen Soldier’s Project.