Ordnance expert David Roddy killed in Iraq

The war in Iraq once again hits home for Hampton Roads.

Another sailor loses his life to a buried bomb.

Tonight, Navy officials are confirming Petty Officer Second Class David Roddy died on Saturday.

Friends say he was killed by a bomb he was trying to diffuse.

David Roddy knew the dangers of this war for someone in his position, a member of the Navy's elite Explosive Ordinance Disposal units. His teammate, another locally based sailor, was killed the same way less than a month ago.

Outside of the Maryland home where David Roddy was raised, a yellow ribbon hangs to help bring him home, now intertwined with a black one because he never will be again.

"He's the guy who worked the robot, went in and pulled the wires, tried to keep them from blowing up. That's how he died," said family friend John Ropka

Ropka heard the news Saturday night from Roddy's parents, who rushed to Norfolk to be with his widow and three young children.

Roddy was working in the extremely dangerous Al Anbar Province in Iraq. His job - to disarm or detonate improvised explosive devices.

Just last month. Doing the same job, in the same place. Roddy lost his battle buddy and teammate, another locally based sailor, Chief Paul Darga.

Family friends say he was sad, but undettered

"It worried me a little that he didn't express his fear. He was gung ho. You'd think he was a marine and not a swabbie.

"It's a detached worry and now it's hit home. He's family and that hurts really bad," Ropka said.

He was a sailor, a son, a husband, and a father to 3 young children.

He had told his kids he would be home for Christmas.

Friends say Roddy beat death two years ago, after he was hit by a truck.

They say he recovered from the accident determined to deploy to Iraq. He was 32-years-old.

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