Defense Department releases name of soldier who died in Kuwait

By

Sgt. Jonathan Roche, a communication electronics technician with Combat Logistics Battalion 11, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), from Chicago, engages a target during an advanced combat marksmanship program shoot on the flight deck of the dock landing ship USS Comstock (LSD 45), Jan. 5. The 11th MEU is deployed with the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) as a theater reserve and crisis response force throughout U.S. Central Command and the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Melissa Wenger/Released)

The Defense Department has announced the name of the solider who allegedly committed suicide while supporting operations at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait.

Spc. John P. Rodriguez, of Hemet, California, died Jan. 12 at approximately 8:30 a.m., reportedly from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Rodriguez was assigned to 2nd Engineer Battalion, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, from Fort Bliss, Texas.

The 3rd Armored Brigade deployed to Kuwait last summer with 3,500 soldiers. The unit primarily has been based out of Camp Buehring, undergoing training with regional and coalition partners, including Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

The unit has participated in roughly six named exercises and 20 smaller engagements with host nation forces, and is expected to return this spring.

The non-combat death of Spc. Rodriguez is still under investigation.

About 

Shawn Snow is the senior reporter for Marine Corps Times and a Marine Corps veteran.